My Reflections of Math Myth
Several of these Math Myths were believed when I was going to school. The main one I remember was the memorization of math facts was crucial .I wasn’t until I started teaching that I noticed this myth was no longer adhered to. Students had to “learn” and not memorize the information. It took me a while to figure out the difference between learning and memorizing, because when I was in school there was little real life relevant connection provided or purpose to the learning. Children were taught to do as they were told and not to question. Counting on your finger was not allowed and in Catholic school would earn you a smack across the knuckles. Today they are considered a manipulative. It was also a general belief that some people had a “Math Mind”, while others didn’t. When my own sons were in school, being able to complete 100 problems in a minute was key to placement in a math class, which supports the myth good math students, do math problems quickly. Fact is math problems take time to think out and solve. Some of us need more than others.
A lot has changed in schools and teaching, math in particular since I was in school 37 years ago. The biggest change came with the installation of the State Standards in the mid 90’s. They demand a higher level of thinking on the student’s part and the teachers. These standards were brought about by demands of the National Mathematics Associations in responds to demands for predicted as needed to live in the 21st centenary world.
We as educators must encourage all student and provide for them to reach success. Even if it is one small step at a time, as forward is the goal. It is not easy to change a person’s attitude let alone societies. The main thing is to provide relevance to our teaching. Two ideas that stood out to me during the reading were having students tutor others, struggling students could tutor young grades. Involving parents by having them require their child to teach (or refresh their memory) what they learned that day. This not only gives encouragement to the student but is considered the highest level of learning: to be able to teach it. Journaling would be a great way to find out the students career goals and an angle for the teacher to use in motivating them. Also having quest speakers take can relate how math connects with their career.
kmarsey 