My Philosophy Of Math Education

Teacher’s Role. Teachers understand that students learn to persevere in solving challenging mathematics problems by being allowed to struggle with an appropriate degree of difficulty. “Figuring things out” is part of life and students need ample opportunities to practice these skills.

It also requires the student to understand approaches to problem solutions utilized by other students and being able to provide peer feedback. Students should be introduced to the use of mathematics to: organize data, solve problems applicable to their life, and understand the world around them. This approach makes the subject both interesting and enjoyable. The use of these strategies is addressed in the next standard “#4 Model with mathematics” (Academics), which helps the student to make connections, surpass procedural knowledge and gain a conceptual understanding of a

My overarching philosophy of education is a very simple one: intentional inclusion of everyone and creating a safe haven for all students. In order to accomplish this, the teacher should have a clear understanding of the goal of education, the role of the teacher, responsibilities of the students, roles and opportunities among parents and community member, and the power of knowledge.

Essential aspects that underpin the professional and dedicated educator include the revising of knowledge and experience, reflection, and an effort in understanding their students. Within mathematics, these skills are informed by the curriculum chosen, the students involved, and the pedagogy that is selected, that create the professional judgement cycle (as seen in Appendix One) (Department of Education and Training Western Australia [DETWA], 2013a). The more teachers understand about their students, the more they can adapt the learning environment to cater for these different learning approaches (Burns, 2010).

My purpose of teaching mathematics is to heighten ones math-knowledge, and increase his/her skill in thought and reasoning. To transmit the sense of joy and excitement I find in learning and applying mathematics, enable students to understand information around us, and prepare them for further studies in math and science.

I will help students believe in themselves and their abilities, as it is one of the best ways to foster a positive mindset in students. It is important for me to motivate my students to succeed academically and personally. Motivation will be provided by praising their efforts and accomplishments,

Mathematics has become one of the topics that many adults think of as a subject that is not used in their everyday life. However, if people start looking at their daily tasks, they will begin to see that mathematics is a skill that they use every day. Mathematics is used when you are making change at the store, baking, putting together a budget, and many other ways. An elementary teacher needs to be able to help children learn the basic building blocks of mathematics. In order for teachers to be successful in teaching mathematics, they have to push their students to become problem solvers. In teaching children to become problem solvers, student will be able to have math fluency.

What is the most effective way to teach? Can students really learn and fully understand the material teachers convey to them on a day to day basis? According to a middle school mathematics teacher, his methods of teaching the traditional way was not as effective and producing a long-term impact as he would have liked. The article "Never Say Anything a Kid Can Say!" enriches us to the possibility of applying slight gradual modifications to our teaching methods and how we could find ways to utilize that information in the search for more effective teaching methods to encourage students to explain their thinking and become more deeply involved in the classroom discussions, thus developing their questioning skills (Reinhart, 2000). After

I use three beliefs as my foundation to guide and support my teaching philosophy. First, open, and effective communication between the teacher and student is necessary for successful learning. Second, learning is the result of addressing experiences between the teacher and the student in a small group setting. Third, teachers need to be experts in their field in order to close gaps when presented with inquiries by students. These beliefs are only effective when working together to create an environment conducive to maximizing learning.

I believe every child can succeed in mathematics, and it is my role to unlock this potential. I aim to teach in ways that help children develop cooperation, assertion and responsibility, as well as a good understanding of subject matter. I believe this can be achieved by creating a culture in the classroom that is built gradually on trust, with a common language, through rules that we create together, and by practicing procedures until they become nearly automatic. I aim to use the resources, materials, and curriculum requirements I have to work with, to engage my students in meaningful learning. I believe that children want to learn, and that it is motivating for pupils when they and their teacher’s are enthusiastic about learning, too.

My teaching philosophy is based in my belief that teaching one of the most noble acts one can provide to others. My prior STEM work experiences have motivated me to give back to the educational system that empowered me to pursue a career in engineering. My teaching techniques incorporate continuous improvement, frequent feedback, encouragement and high expectations. I especially encourage those students who feel they are incapable of learning math by explaining learning math is an achievable journey requiring their practice and perseverance to enable success. I strive to present consistent, clear lessons and activities that enable students to learn material in a way that fits their personal learning style.

First, Ms. Shepard keeps the lessons relevant by both helping students see connections between mathematical concepts and students’ lives and allowing material from other classes to be imbued into her lessons, such as the English discussion terms she borrowed from Ms. Davis in order to facilitate her class discussions, as well. Second, she utilizes hands-on group work often, as a substitute for lecture. In fact, Ms. Shepard never used a traditional lecture in her class. Instead, she relied on student inquiry and questions; whenever a lesson goal was reached she would conduct a group reflection. This format for class is inherently best practice since it utilizes student-driven ideals as its foundation. Additionally, the overall emphasis on a routine of writing-to-learn, modeling, and empowering hands-on work was all exemplifying best

In any classroom, a teacher is perhaps the most important aspect. S/he does all the planning, assessing, and facilitating of discussions. However, a teacher’s biggest mission is to ensure that students understand the mathematical concepts, but not assisting so much that the students feel they are not allowed to create their own methods (Hiebert, 1997). To do this, the teacher must select her tasks with a goal in mind. Often teachers are taught to blindly follow the state curriculum and scripted lessons. However, it is important that these lessons are placed in a sequence that is consistent with what the teacher wants the students to learn (Hiebert, 1997). When teachers select their tasks, they must be familiar with their students’ funds of knowledge and choose lessons and ideas that are consistent with their students’ level of thinking. Selecting lessons in this manner allows teachers to better anticipate the way students may answer the problems. It is also a teacher’s job to share relevant information with the class. This includes mathematical conventions (such as symbols, numbers, operations, and special vocabulary needed to solve problems) as well as alternative methods (Hiebert, 1997). However, it is important to remember that while students may benefit from learning different methods, they should not be forced to change their methods to better align with the standard way of solving the problem. Essentially, sharing relevant information includes supporting students as thinkers and problem solvers and helping them learn important mathematics (Hiebert, 1997). Teachers must also establish a classroom culture. This includes focusing on methods as well as adopting an appropriate position of authority. Students should share, analyze, and improve their ways of thinking and teachers need to know when to step back and let the students struggle with the problem – especially when it comes to telling students

The recent change in the national curriculum in mathematics, as well as having positive impacts, will also cause issues in teaching and learning mathematics. One of the

Many educators will argue what makes an effective teacher and how that correlates with the function of the classroom. When we talked about how to be an effective teacher we discussed three components, teaching through problem-solving and selecting appropriate tasks, creating appropriate environments and using appropriate interventions. In my field experience, I was able to observe these three effective mathematics teaching components and understand how they apply to the classroom. After leaning about these components, I was then able to use them in my personal experience and see how they