Field Experience!
I have had the opportunity to explore many different math settings in classrooms, but my most memorable experience thus far has been in a kindergarten math classroom. Students are given the opportunity to influence their learning and make their own decisions. Discussions are mostly student-lead even at this young age. The classroom focuses on discovery and reasoning behind discoveries. Students are taught that they are mathematicians and take an active role in their learning. One of the daily examples of this is "Number Corner" where students practice finding patterns on their monthly calendar. The patterns are applicable and even connect to daily life such as weather and how things are measured. Another example of student autonomy in the classroom is seen during "Centers." Students are broken into small groups at this time to be working on different assignments or activities based on their individual needs. Here, they are given more choice in their learning and supported by a number of teachers and materials. This classroom has helped impact the way I plan to teach math in my future classroom by showing me the importance of making content student-centered and student-based and adapting to the changing needs of each brilliant individual in my classroom.
I have had the opportunity to explore many different math settings in classrooms, but my most memorable experience thus far has been in a kindergarten math classroom. Students are given the opportunity to influence their learning and make their own decisions. Discussions are mostly student-lead even at this young age. The classroom focuses on discovery and reasoning behind discoveries. Students are taught that they are mathematicians and take an active role in their learning. One of the daily examples of this is "Number Corner" where students practice finding patterns on their monthly calendar. The patterns are applicable and even connect to daily life such as weather and how things are measured. Another example of student autonomy in the classroom is seen during "Centers." Students are broken into small groups at this time to be working on different assignments or activities based on their individual needs. Here, they are given more choice in their learning and supported by a number of teachers and materials. This classroom has helped impact the way I plan to teach math in my future classroom by showing me the importance of making content student-centered and student-based and adapting to the changing needs of each brilliant individual in my classroom.
Professional Development Opportunities:
- Build Math Minds Podcast: Episode 146 ~
- Math fluency allows students to be able to read and interpret the problems they are given in a math setting. This podcast talks about how standard algorithms are digit oriented. Steps involve recall of basic facts rather than gaining understanding. Computational strategies are number oriented. Digits are always connected to place values. While standard algorithms are right-handed problems, computational strategies are left-handed problems. Standard algorithms are also very rigid and require recordings of each step. Computational strategies and very flexible, inviting multiple methods to be practiced and not requiring recordings but includes the use of mental math.
- Build Math Minds Podcast: Episode 147 ~
- Practice makes permanent not perfect. The key here is that when students learn something in an incorrect way, they may continue to practice the wrong way. The routine they practice becomes ingrained in their memory and can be very hard to change. Teachers should make note of this concept when beginning to teach a new math topic. They want to teach the students when they are ready and the best strategies to master the topic. Remember, that practice makes permanent, and help students to catch their mistakes before they practice them further!
- Build Math Minds Podcast: Episode 148 ~
- Fractions can be very hard for students to understand at any age. Often, textbooks only show rules and procedures to follow when working with fractions but do not really explain why we are doing what we are doing. Understanding fractions is a complex endeavor that requires students to look at the relationship that the numbers hold rather than a single whole number. They must consider how the numerator can represent a set or replication of a number. The denominator represents a whole that they are drawing from. These two numbers are in relation!
Check out more of the Build Math Minds Podcast by clicking here:
Community Involvement:
I have had the privilege of being a part of Grove City College's "Math Blast Program" in both 2022 and 2023. This program invites students from the community to come take a fun and engaging class on a topic of their choosing. Education majors at Grove City prepare the lessons and lead the class. In 2022, I was a teach aide for a "Game Theory" class for upper elementary students. In 2023, I took on the role of lead teacher in a kindergarten and first grade classroom where we used M&M's to practice counting, sorting, and making patterns. Both of my experiences with "Math Blast" have been enjoyable and insightful. I look forward to creating fun math lessons for my future students!
I have had the privilege of being a part of Grove City College's "Math Blast Program" in both 2022 and 2023. This program invites students from the community to come take a fun and engaging class on a topic of their choosing. Education majors at Grove City prepare the lessons and lead the class. In 2022, I was a teach aide for a "Game Theory" class for upper elementary students. In 2023, I took on the role of lead teacher in a kindergarten and first grade classroom where we used M&M's to practice counting, sorting, and making patterns. Both of my experiences with "Math Blast" have been enjoyable and insightful. I look forward to creating fun math lessons for my future students!
Networking:
Math Talk should be highly regarded for all ages. It helps students to believe that they are more than students. They are mathematicians! Here are some of my favorite pins encouraging math talk in the classroom:
Math Talk should be highly regarded for all ages. It helps students to believe that they are more than students. They are mathematicians! Here are some of my favorite pins encouraging math talk in the classroom:
Check out more ideas here:
Math Story!
Check out the Math Story I created on StoryJumper based around the PA Second Grade Money Standard:
Check out the Math Story I created on StoryJumper based around the PA Second Grade Money Standard: