Teresa-Marie's Math Mindset

          Once again, this week has proven to be a great learning experience; extending our knowledge in the realm of mathematics. To begin, this week started with reviewing the Capacity Building Series   document on differentiating math instruction. As educators, it is our responsibility of being aware of the needs of our students. Each class we are placed in will have a variety of learners. Whether your students are visual, kinaesthetic,  linguistic, musical, etc. learners, teachers must suit the needs of all students. According to the Capacity Building Series document, "d ifferentiation is an organized yet flexible way of proactively adjusting teaching and learning to meet kids where they are and help them to achieve maximum growth as learners." During my placement last year, I was able to see first hand how my associate teacher was able to accommodate and modify her teaching whether the student had an IEP or not...

          Just think back to when you were a student, sitting in math class, being told to memorize your multiplication table or the formula to solve a problem asking for area. But why do I as a student need to know these concepts? Why am I learning this? These are the pressing questions that students ponder about whenever introduced to a new concept. As educators, we have a responsibility to guide our students and help them fully understand mathematical concepts. This week's discussion focused around the notion of knowing vs. understanding: the difference between the two.  via GIPHY           A major problem with students today surrounds the idea that they do not fully understand the concepts being taught. Therefore, the question remains: Should educators drill concepts into their students in order for them to know a concept? Or should they teach strategies to help students understand conc...

          Welcome back fellow classmates! It has definitely been an exciting year; meeting new people, learning new skills and teaching strategies, and having the opportunity to demonstrate and strengthen these skills in the classroom. Last year, I was definitely feeling uneasy about teaching math due to the fact that I was never very fond of math throughout school; elementary or high school. However during my time at placement, I had the opportunity to primarily teach a couple units of math; which included patterning and data management. This experience allowed myself to become more comfortable teaching this subject area. I was able to use my background knowledge to help students learn new concepts while completing fun and interactive activities. For placements this upcoming year, I have set a goal for myself: using more inquiry-based learning to encourage students learn concepts by while exploring activities through mathematical scenarios. ...