The question is raised in every math class all over the nation, why do we have to know this? Students want to know, how is this relevant to our lives? And will we ever use this? I have heard many answers to these comments, from, “there is a test next week and it would benefit you to know this” and “math is a tool to help you learn how to solve problems.” While these are effective at refocusing the student back to the lesson, I feel that there are better ways to help students understand the relevance of mathematics. I feel that it is my job as a teacher to employ many methods of teaching math so students know why they are learning the material.
Math is a subject with a stigma. Many students feel that they are inadequate at math; others feel that it is irrelevant to their lives. Whatever the reason that students do not want to learn math, it is my job to overcome the past math experiences and put them on a positive path to learning. I will help my students break down certain stereotypes about math like, boys are better at math than girls. I was a student who was afraid of math; therefore I understand the fear that many students have. I have discovered that math is not the terrible monster that many think it is. Math is a subject that when taken one step at a time, can be learned and enjoyed.
I believe that students should not be rushed through lessons. Math is a subject of discovery. Students need the opportunity to figure out the concepts and reasons behind the lesson. My classroom will be a place where students will have diverse opportunities to learn. Because math can lend itself to hands-on-activity, I will have various manipulatives for students to use. I will allow students to use the manipulatives to discover the answers to different problems and then as a class we will discuss the variations. One type of manipulative that we could use to discover geometry concepts would be origami. By making an origami cube, we can see right angles, parallel and perpendicular sides, study volume and area. Carl Sagan once said, “When you make the finding yourself - even if you're the last person on Earth to see the light - you'll never forget it.” I believe that when children discover math, they will have a more concrete understanding and a better sense of accomplishment, which will create a more stable foundation in mathematics.
My commitment to teaching math in unique ways gives me the opportunity to explore many different teaching methods. I will use a variety of resources to make my lessons exciting for my students. I believe that the internet is a valuable tool for teachers in many ways. There are many websites that provide opportunities for teachers to share material. I can see myself putting lesson plans on the internet for others to use, and I may occasionally pull a lesson from a website to use with my class. I will introduce online math lessons to my students so they can learn while on the computer, as well as using software such as Geometers Sketchpad. There are many math sites that have flash cards, homework help, and interactive games available to teachers and students. By showing students these sites, it is not only teaching them math, but also allowing them to become more proficient on the computer.
The integration of subjects is a good way to teach two concepts at one time. Let me illustrate with another example, there are a variety of story books available that can help to introduce math concepts. I will read a book to the students and then create a math activity out of the story. This combines math and literature. Students can even be encouraged to teach a math lesson using a story book. For social studies we may track the price of gasoline over the period of a year and create a line graph to illustrate the changes. Using examples that we see in real life helps students to develop an understanding of the necessity of math. I think it is the teacher’s job to be as creative as possible with resources to make learning enjoyable and memorable.
I feel that the most important aspect of teaching math is for me to be available to my students. The time spent in class teaching and discovering, may not be enough for some students. I will make myself available after school and during recess time. I understand that students learn at different rates and it is important to offer them the opportunities that meet their needs. Students will not feel that staying in at recess is a punishment but rather a time of enhancement. I will allow students to stay in for extra help and to help each other. Allowing students to help each other builds a community of learners and helps each student to establish different techniques of learning. By allowing extra time to my students, I am ensuring that the lessons are being thoroughly learned.
Teaching in various ways, using all resources available, allowing students to discover mathematics, and being available to my students are among the many ways that I will help children discover mathematics. By using materials wisely I will be helping students to have many different opportunities. Giving my students manipulatives to use ensures that those students who are visual and hands-on learners will have a better understanding of concepts. Making sure that students know I am there for them, even after school, will give students confidence to ask questions and understand it is okay to make mistakes. I want my students to develop a desire to learn and I will provide every opportunity for them to discover the hows and whys of math.
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