A new year, a new semester, a new beginning. This is my mindset. It is a fresh start from the previous semesters and having a positive outlook is always a must. This semester I am taking four math classes as well as an education class so having a positive outlook may seem quite difficult. Adding to the semesters classes, I am also a volunteer/substitute at a high school. So I try to know information about any class being taught so I can help out as much as possible. So in my mind I am taking or need to know information about eight or more math classes all at the same time. Think I'm crazy yet? Trust me it is very possible.
Having this semester in mind, I was excited to take math 229, math activities for secondary teachers, because I thought it would help me to be involved with students when I am volunteering. While attending class the first day, I found that the experience of volunteering for the past four years may actually help me with the class discussions. I have been able to observe and form opinions about many of the topics discussed in class. I also come from a family of teachers so teaching is kind of "in my blood."
So far in this class, I feel we have been focusing on the fact that everyone learns things in a different way. No brain works the same way. Which is why I think many students struggle in class when topics are only explained in one way. In my opinion the number one thing teachers need to know how to do is to teach and explain things in different ways. Teachers also need to find a way to put themselves in their students shoes and try to understand how the students approach problems. The worst feeling for a student is when they think they will never learn the topic because they think there is only one way to find the answer and they are just not understanding it. Students learn in so many different ways. I have noticed while volunteering that a teacher can explain a concept to the entire class and a student might not understand. However, later on when explained in a different way, maybe using modeling with different colors or a hands on object, the student might understand it right away.
I am really looking forward to the rest of this class and so far I am enjoying it. I hope to learn a lot for my future teaching career.
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ReplyDeletecoherent +
complete/content - this could use more to show the two hours. Several themes you could expand on: family of teachers (was there much talk about how to teach?) or an example or personal connection to your point about multiple ways.
consolidated - then you want to find a way to synthesize. With a split topic like this it can be the connection, or what's next in a pattern.
C's: 3/5
I really like how you talked about how students learn in so many different ways because it is so true. I also liked how you talked about how teachers need to put themselves in the students shoes. I think this is something all teachers would be able to do because teachers obviously have all been students at one time! I have also tutored at a high school and noticed how students look at me weird when I explain it one way and they tell me it is wrong because that is not the way their teacher explained it even though we arrived at the same conclusion. It is so important for everyone to know that if they understand and get the same solution, it is okay for it to be different!
ReplyDeleteI agree that teachers should try to put themselves in their students shoes. To me this goes along with how everyone's brain works differently. By trying to understand the student a teacher can probably come up with a better way of teaching them. Everyone learns different ways so some approaches don't work for everyone, but its also important for the teacher to let the students know that the different methods of getting to the solutions are completely valid, as you have said. I think that's why the counting circle has stuck in my mind so much. It showed how many different ways people went about getting to the same answer. Just as you did with the student you tutored.
ReplyDeleteShirley Walcott