The first topic that I learned about was what math teachers need to know in order to be effective educators on the subject. Math teachers do not need to be expert mathematicians, but they do need to have a good understanding of the concepts. Instead, math teachers must have the pedagogical content knowledge to know how to teach math, meaning they must know how to unpack the knowledge they have and connect it to other concepts. They must also be able to predict how ideas about math blossom and how answers can be made using different avenues. For example, here is an example of an algorithm that can be used for subtracting two numbers that is not often used. As math teachers we must understand how a student could get to an answer like this and not restrict them to only one method of arriving at an answer.
During the class we also began to debunk some common myths that have been pervasive in mathematics education and affects the outcome of its students. The most common myth that has been told is that only some people are naturally gifted while others are not. This creates a belief that those who struggle at math were almost genetically inclined to do so when this is simply not true. The truth is, every child has the capability to be great at math if they are willing to put dedicated work into their pursuit of success in mathematics. This was an "ah-ha" for me because this myth was one that I believed in for many years. As a result, I just simply accepted the fact that I was not good at math and for many years did not do well in it. However, the mind of a child has an incredible ability to grow and be successful at math. With this knowledge I now have a completely new approach when it comes to instructing mathematics because now when I teach a child who is struggling I know they have the potential to get the concepts. Here is a video which further illustrates these math myths.
We also got a chance to learn about how teaching mathematics is now different in the present day society. Math is no longer about just question and answer, but about students inquiring about mathematical processes. In fact, in order to build on the problem solving skills of students I learned that teachers should pose open questions so that students ask what it needs in order to answer it. In conclusion, every student has the potential to excel at math and we as teachers need to be ready to foster that potential into growth.
I also really enjoyed Jo Boaler's video about debunking math myths. Like you, I also grew up believing the myth that only some people were born with the innate ability to be good at math. I found it really encouraging to see how research clearly shows that every child has the ability to excel in math. As Pat discussed in class, it is the learning experience that impacts the child's ability to do math. If students are not learning math in an engaging and positive environment and are not working with questions that put math in a meaningful context, many of them will likely find math to be a challenging subject.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching Jo Boaler's video, I realized how important it is to foster a growth mindset with our students. Rather than expect less of students who seem to be struggling with math, we need to emphasize the power of yet. They might not know a concept or be able to perform a certain math operation, but it's only temporary. They don't know it, YET. It's our job to create a positive and encouraging math environment that helps every student see their tremendous potential for growth and success!
How to unpack knowledge in math and connect it to other concepts is really important in a student's understanding of math. I was good at math with rules, formulas, and equations but I believe that teaching math from the perspective of real-life situations can enrich their knowledge in math.
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