Math 214

Reflection on Math
April Thompson
Math 214
March 25, 2013
Michelle Carmel

Reflection on Math In my experience in this course, I was taught and also came across many different concepts of becoming a math educator. By being a math teacher, to me it means that we must know and also process the information that is giving and taught to us as well. I have heard many individuals say the math is an easy subject to teach, because everything is written out for us educators step by steps. But, what they do not know it that this course takes time, and also require a little preparation and knowledge of the subject to teach the students how to perform well in this course. In this class it was viewed as a new experience, and when I referred back to my past math teachers it was brought to my attention that they actually understands how to do the math and in many different ways other than just what is in the book. I tend to do better and remember the math concepts longer when I am actually practicing on the assignments. It is easy to just write out the math problems steps from book or from a lesson plan, but to really take the time and to explain the steps in a way for all students to understand the problems takes practice and an understanding of the math ourselves. Becoming a math teacher takes time and it especially takes patience, because not all students will get the solution on the first try, so we as teachers, would have to make sure that they will grasp the concept before moving on to the next assignment. In other words we would have to recognize the student’s readiness or not readiness for the next step in math. So, we would have to put in a lot of time and effort for each student, even if that means continue to work with them before and after school to make sure they are getting what they are doing before moving on to the next. If a student does not understand how to add, subtract, multiply, or divide than how can the student be expected to understand how to follow through and complete equations with unknown variables and being able to solve other equations such as areas, perimeters, and area of triangles. If a student is unable to complete one-step in the math process then how can they be expected to understand the next? Most teachers would not allow the students to get bored by continuing to teach the same step even after the students have already learned and understood the concept. There is a fine line between over teaching and under teaching steps or math concepts. Us as educators, especially in math where all the steps are so crucial in learning the over-all material, must be able to see when students are ready to move on and when they need a little more help or attention. Mathematics for Elementary Educators teaches many different concepts that are needed for basic understanding of what we will be teaching in our classroom. There were several ideas covered in this course that stood out at me, but there was one of the major mathematics resources that really grasped my attention: The National Center of Education Statistics website. This website informed me about all of the statistics all around the word. It told me which state was doing great in math, it told me about which different grades at different schools on how they were doing in math, and it also divided the states, schools, and grade levels up in different categories according to their math skills. I really enjoyed viewing this information, because I always wanted to know how other schools are doing in academics comparing to where I live. I recently had a friend that moved to Oklahoma City and her kids are so much ahead and are on a faster pace than what they are using too. She mentioned to me that Chattanooga, TN is so far behind it was unbelievable. So, when I viewed this website and reviewed the different report cards I was amazed by some of the other states statistics and their academic level. I will not recommend any changes for either course. This reason being is that everything is laid out for us upcoming educators or for those that are currently teaching. There are so many resources out on the internet that would help us to our advantage. Everything that we have learned or that was taught to us is the best advice anyone could ever give us. In Math 213, I enjoyed reviewing the website The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics principles and standards. (NCTM) The NCTM principles are set forth as, Equity, Curriculum, Teaching, Learning, Assessment, and Technology. The six principals are groundwork for all educators teaching mathematics. From Math 214 I mentioned before that I really enjoyed the National Center for Educational Statistics website it gave a lot of information from all over the world and how to improve those statistics. I believe that it is easier to get help or advice from someone that has been teaching, currently teaching or from a retired teacher. To me they have the best advice to give to the upcoming teachers. So, with that being said I would not change anything to either course. They were both so helpful to me and they gave a lot of information that was needed. By learning these different concepts of a mathematical teacher, I have learned that I will need to study and do a lot of research on a regular basis with other teachers to help maintain and influence my teaching style, and to help students learn the concepts more clearly and quickly. By attending conferences or being a part of an association with other teachers I can not only learn from others, but can also share my ideas with others to help them learn how to be a more efficient teacher. I will be able to help students understand more clearly on how important math is, and different, maybe easier, ways to accomplish their goals in learning math and not hating it as I have in the past. Math is not something that should be hated or despised, especially when it is something that we should on an everyday basis. I think math is one of those subjects that should be embraced and learned to help reduce stress and frustration later in math, by already having the basic skills that are taught from the beginning.