Thinking about Math

In my math methods class today we went to a local elementary school and interviewed first and fifth grade students. I found this experience to be very rich and rewarding. My role as an interviewer was not to teach the students math but to find out what they know and think about math and why they know it.

 First I interviewed a first grader. This student had a good concept on math and she had great strategies for solving problems ( I wonder if we should be calling them problems?) She seemed to have most of her addition and subtraction math facts memorized and when I asked her how she knew that she would usually say, "I just know it!" or she would say "I guessed it!" I began to make the problems a little harder and I was a little nervous about doing this on the spot because I felt it was very important for the student to feel successful, yet I still wanted to challenge her, and I did not want to look foolish by making up a problem that was outrageous then saying wait no lets do this one and make up another one. (you know what I mean) so I asked her what 7+6 was she thought about it a moment then she told me it was 13. I knew she had counted up to get this answer.

When I question her about how she knew the answer was 13 I found myself leading her to give me the answer I wanted. I found this to be the most challenging part of the interview process. Learning to wait and giving the student time to answer my questions with out leading them to the answer or figuring it our for them was my weakness. As soon as I did it  said to myself darn you are leading the interview then I would be careful not to do it again and it was not long before, you guessed it, I would feed my student the answer I was looking for again.

I thought this was a valuable part of my learning experience. I did not realize how hard it is to talk to kids about what they know and how they know it. I know that this is something I will  have to be really aware of in the future because I will need to be able to take my time and listen to my students when I am learning form them what they know about something. I cannot be very effective if I say to students so how do you know 6+4=10 pause then say oh did you count up from 6 or did you picture a number line or etc.

I feel like this is a skill i will need for all subjects as well as just getting to know my students. If I ask a question I need to be prepared to wait for the answer or be ok with the idea that I may not get one.

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.