Philosophy of Teaching Mathematics
I teach to help students gain a better understanding and an overall appreciation for mathematics. I believe that good teaching occurs when teachers are able to form relationships with their students; relationships of mutual respect and understanding. Good teachers should help their students to see that what they learning truly matters, that there is a relationship between classroom topics and the real world. The goal of all teachers should not be to teach their students, but to get their students to learn. Effective learning occurs when students are able to transfer their knowledge outside the subject area and into the real world. Effective learning is really lifelong learning, ideas that the students fully understand and can relate to real life situations.
When it comes to teaching I would describe my style as inquiry based. I want to foster the students learning, creating an environment in which they can truly thrive. I do not want to overpower the students, leading them to believe that there is only one correct way to accomplish a task, I would prefer the students be able to build their own knowledge. I feel that knowledge that is self-generated is knowledge that is forever remembered; overall I want to encourage creative thinking among all my students. As a teacher I try as much as possible to relate my subject area to the students’ prior knowledge, other courses, and their own lives. This unique approach makes learning mathematics a simpler, more relatable, and more enjoyable experience.
I hold high expectations for all my students; I want to push them to achieve all that they can. My students can expect that I will hold myself to the same high standards. Students can expect me to be dedicated to the classroom, not to the teaching of the material so much as to their own learning. In the end my goal is that the students learn effectively and are able to transfer the knowledge to the other disciplines and later in life. A teacher’s education does not end as soon as they complete their training; a teacher is never done learning. To improve my teaching I continue to search for new methods and ideas that can make mathematics more relatable and better understood.
Throughout every level of my schooling mathematics has always been my favorite area. I have always understood mathematics better than other subjects; seeing how it relates to my life and my future. I am able to understand mathematics in a unique way, and through this way I am able to pass along my understanding and appreciation to others. For students, mathematics seems to come to life when they are able to see it in action. Whether it be the role it plays in sports, how it can be used in computer animation, or simply how it is used in everyday business, real life applications of mathematics can help it to come to life. Mathematics literacy refers to the students’ ability to understand the role that mathematics plays in life, its role in society. Individuals who are literate in mathematics are able to incorporate it into their daily life in such a way that it benefits society as a whole. Mathematics is more than learning formulas and equations on repeat, plugging in numbers and coming up with the one and only solution. There is always an emphasis on the thinking behind the mathematics, the mathematical practices that students are really learning. Students are gaining skills like perseverance, abstract reasoning, and the ability to problem solve. These skills will help students to stick persist in solving problems, think outside the box, and work their way through the many problems that they could come across in the future. While the knowledge of numbers, formulas, and equations may eventually fade for these students, the mathematical thinking skills they have gained will stick with them forever helping them in all areas of life. Overall teaching for me is all about getting my students to learn; while the curriculum may tell me what I have to teach, it is my teaching philosophy that ensures that my students are learning and developing an appreciation for mathematics.
When it comes to teaching I would describe my style as inquiry based. I want to foster the students learning, creating an environment in which they can truly thrive. I do not want to overpower the students, leading them to believe that there is only one correct way to accomplish a task, I would prefer the students be able to build their own knowledge. I feel that knowledge that is self-generated is knowledge that is forever remembered; overall I want to encourage creative thinking among all my students. As a teacher I try as much as possible to relate my subject area to the students’ prior knowledge, other courses, and their own lives. This unique approach makes learning mathematics a simpler, more relatable, and more enjoyable experience.
I hold high expectations for all my students; I want to push them to achieve all that they can. My students can expect that I will hold myself to the same high standards. Students can expect me to be dedicated to the classroom, not to the teaching of the material so much as to their own learning. In the end my goal is that the students learn effectively and are able to transfer the knowledge to the other disciplines and later in life. A teacher’s education does not end as soon as they complete their training; a teacher is never done learning. To improve my teaching I continue to search for new methods and ideas that can make mathematics more relatable and better understood.
Throughout every level of my schooling mathematics has always been my favorite area. I have always understood mathematics better than other subjects; seeing how it relates to my life and my future. I am able to understand mathematics in a unique way, and through this way I am able to pass along my understanding and appreciation to others. For students, mathematics seems to come to life when they are able to see it in action. Whether it be the role it plays in sports, how it can be used in computer animation, or simply how it is used in everyday business, real life applications of mathematics can help it to come to life. Mathematics literacy refers to the students’ ability to understand the role that mathematics plays in life, its role in society. Individuals who are literate in mathematics are able to incorporate it into their daily life in such a way that it benefits society as a whole. Mathematics is more than learning formulas and equations on repeat, plugging in numbers and coming up with the one and only solution. There is always an emphasis on the thinking behind the mathematics, the mathematical practices that students are really learning. Students are gaining skills like perseverance, abstract reasoning, and the ability to problem solve. These skills will help students to stick persist in solving problems, think outside the box, and work their way through the many problems that they could come across in the future. While the knowledge of numbers, formulas, and equations may eventually fade for these students, the mathematical thinking skills they have gained will stick with them forever helping them in all areas of life. Overall teaching for me is all about getting my students to learn; while the curriculum may tell me what I have to teach, it is my teaching philosophy that ensures that my students are learning and developing an appreciation for mathematics.