Math 157 Reflection

When looking back on Math 297, I am reminded of the first time I heard mention of the course in Math 157 by Shari Dorsey. Shari was sharing with the class that in the fall a special topics class was going to be available, the topic being instruction in the middle years. I was so eager to sign up for the course that I emailed the instructor, Margaret Kinzel, immediately requesting a permission number. The eagerness to secure myself a position in this course stems from a desire to have as thorough an understanding of the principles of middle school math as possible when I graduate because my goal is to be a Middle School Mathematics Educator.
Over the years, experience has shown me the difference between learning and getting good grades. While
I will always strive for excellence and the highest marks are a show of success, they are not always a representation of learning. The true representation of education comes when I learn how to apply what is instructed and gaining an understanding of proper application. The instructors I have gained the most education from are those that have had such a great understanding of their subject that they can recognize when I may have missed a step or used a different technique than the would have assumed to come to the correct result. Becoming a great educator in my opinion will only happen through continued education in the subject(s) I will be instructing in. So, Math 297 was a must for me because I want to gain all the knowledge I can in how to properly instruct, help and educate my future students.