Week Two Math Reflection

©Breakey, D. 2015. In Class Math Problem.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, math has never been my strongest subject. What intimidated me most about math was the process. I wanted to be able to find the answer quick and easy but that was very rarely the case. I lacked confidence and often said, “I am not a numbers person”. What I have realized as I’ve gotten older is that anyone can be a ‘math person’ but, some have to work harder than others. I should have worked harder at math and committed myself to improving my skills. Instead, I shied away and settled for mediocre grades. I enjoyed subjects like English and politics where I could argue my points through words. Math was a subject you needed to show your process and it is a difficult subject fake. This might be why there is a negative opinion about mathematics. I believe that many students struggle with translating mathematical formula’s into something they can easily and confidently apply to math problems. I also believe that many students feel intimidated when approaching math questions and determining what steps and skills are needed. I’ve now used the words 'lack of confidence' and 'intimidation' multiple times in this post. If you ask me what I think makes a great math teacher I would say someone who can teach students the skills they need, and how to apply them, in order to make them feel confident when they come to class. Students need to be taught to ask their own questions and understand that there are multiple ways to get to a single answer.

What struck me about reading the grade 1-8 Ontario curriculum was the emphasis on problem solving and the idea that this needs to be at the foundation of mathematical instruction. This supports what I said in regards to having a teacher who encourages students to ask their own questions. The 4 step model is a great method students can use to solve problems without fear of making mistakes. In step 4 they are expected to look back and check results. If the results are wrong they can begin the process again. Something that surprised me was the emphasis on promoting a positive attitude towards math. This suggests that a negative opinion of math may exist and that it is critical, as a teacher, to demonstrate a positive disposition towards math. The curriculum suggests that students need to feel they are capable and I completely agree with this. Feeling capable goes hand in hand with feeling confident. If students are equipped with the tools they need to be capable of working through problems, they will develop confidence in the subject and this could create a positive attitude towards math. If students are able to be successful they have the chance to enjoy the subject. One strategy we discussed in class was modelling a situation for students so they could have a more hands on approach to math. Using tools such as smart board, connect blocks or elastic boards is a great way for students to work through their problem with a visual aid. This is always a way to appeal to students who learn in a variety of ways. The picture above shows an in class math problem and the many ways a single answer can be displayed and worked through. It will be my goal to encourage my students and provide them the tools they need to be capable and successful in math.