Grownups Say The Darndest Things

I have heard caring adults that were very invested in their children's education say, "well she is more of a literacy person" or "Oh little Suzie John she is more of an artist." These are the same adults that are on their kids to read every night and monitor there TV watching and do all those things "good parents" do. Yet when they are asked to practice math with their students they say "Eh I'm no good at math either." Their kids get the message you have to read thirty minutes every night and you should read in the car or when your bored...they don't say the same thing about math.

Why do we as a society believe that people that can do math are inherently born to do it? Like your either a path person or your not. Kinda like the ides that you were born to teach you don't have to learn how to teach. The idea that kids can learn to do math and that we as teachers can teach math in away that is relevant to our students lives and serves a meaningful purpose seems to be a far fetched concept. How many times have you heard children and adults alike say: "I hate math! I have the worst math teacher they don't make any sense why do I have to know algebra I will never use it?" We hear statements like that is all the time and our kids hear us say them.

The big question is how can we change this concept? I am not certain about how to  answer to this question but I hope if enough teachers begin to change their attitudes about math then society will begin to change with them. I can only hope so.

I did not learn to do math until I returned to college a good 25 years after I had graduated from high school. The funny thing about that is that I never believed I could do math until I had a math teacher that told me I could. She told me everyone could do math. Once I realized I could do math I actually did it. That is what we have to get through to our students as teachers and we have to teach the math in away that empowers and engages kids so that they can make real life connections with the math and their real world.

First Day in my Dyad

Well, today was my first day at my new Dyad with Susan. I am working with my master teacher in a math, science, and geometry in multi age classroom. It is a small school and the students range from 6th grade to 9th grade. Today was very exciting and I was amazed at how great the kids were. This was a short day as the teachers have a cooperative planning period in the afternoon. So, we only had students for Algebra II and Geometry. Tomorrow we will get to see science.

This is really interesting for those of you who know me you might think it is amazing that I am student teaching in math! I have struggled with math my entire life, mostly because; I have always lacked self confidence in the math department (well numerous depts.). When I returned to college in 2006 I had to take three math classes before I could even think about taking college level math! I worked very hard to learn math and I still feel a little shaky with math when I am put on the spot.

When I was in elementary school I had some very bad math experiences both at school and at home. I remember my parents making me feel like an idiot because I did not have the math facts memorized. I remember teachers that were less than understanding when I needed to count on my fingers or make tally marks. I remember the fear I felt that I might give a wrong answer. The fear and anxiety I had developed around math at a very early age caused me to avoid math and I believed I could not do math (which translated into you are stupid). I felt stupid and I would not even answer simple questions when asked. This behavior really did not help me because I made my math teachers and my parents very angry they never encouraged me to explore the math and figure out my answer they just yelled and told me I was stupid and lazy because I did not have my math facts memorized. They assumed that because I was not fast and sure of my answers I must not know how to do it (and I believed them). It was a very humiliating experience and I still struggle today.

Luckily for me I found fabulous math teachers at college that took the time to support my learning. They spent extra time with me tutoring me in math...many of those hours they were simply holding my hand and building my confidence. I am very grateful for these math teachers today and I know if they had not spent countless hours encouraging and supporting me, I would not be here today a teacher candidate in a Jr. High math class.