Welcome Back! September 11, 2017

     Welcome back to my readers! It has been some time since my last Mathematics blog post, but as I continue to learn in my teacher education about different aspects of Mathematics education I feel the need to reflect on them in my writing. 

     This week in class and in my weekly online module I had the chance to review as well as reflect on the mentality that people have towards Math. One major theme that I noticed this week was about the stereotypes and myths that are attached to Math. These stereotypes are important to know about as teachers because they greatly influence the way our students perceive Math.

     The one myth that was discussed which influenced my career as a student was that many people believe that some people are genetically better at math, while others are not. However, this is simply not true and we got a chance to watch videos that point out the research on this. As teachers we need to instruct our students to truly believe that they are capable of success in Math and that with hard work comes success. In fact, research shows that people who do not believe they are capable of learning Math cause chain reactions in the brain that are detrimental to their learning. As one video pointed out, those who are successful at Math were not necessarily born with this ability, but have just been exposed to it more than their peers. As a student, others reinforced this myth which led me to believe that I was not capable of success in Math, but that I could succeed in athletics. I know now that this was not true, but this belief caused me to spend more practice time in athletics and less on Math. As a result, I became more successful at one more than the other.

     As a teacher you might be asking, what can be learned from this and how can I prepare my students for success? I would argue that this most important step is to demonstrate to your students that these kinds of Math myths are false. Instead, lead your students to believe that they can succeed with hard work and dedication not only in Math, but in all aspects of life. Secondly, teachers must teach their students to embrace the mistakes and challenges they face in Math. Throughout this week I heard testimonials from people who dislike Math because of their struggle with it. We as teachers need to show our students that these struggles will help them become better. Many students understand that there will be struggles when they learn a sport or an instrument or a new subject, and are usually ok with that, but why not with Math? We need to show our students that the brain is like a muscle that needs to be trained and exercised to get stronger.

     I am excited to continue my Math education journey this year with a substantial amount of experience now to reflect on. I understand that there is much more to learn and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to grow as an educator. I take it as my mission to show my students that they are capable of success in whatever they put their mind to as long as they are dedicated enough to endure the challenges.