Chapter 1: Teaching Mathematics in the 21st Century

“I am definitely not a math person. I am a language person.” That’s what I have been telling myself for the past 10 over years. I am an excellent reader. I love to read and love being read to. Doing comprehension questions was my forte. I excel in my language subjects but fail in math. All I heard from my parents and teachers were practice, practice and practice. I am clueless about why and what I have been doing for those math questions. All I know was getting the right formula to solve the right questions. Till date, I have no idea how I managed to pass the “O” level mathematics. Exam Luck I guess.

 

However, I seemed to have a better understanding of myself after reading the chapters in the book. I realised I may be both a language and a math person! In Chapter 1 of the text, I relate most strongly to the section about The Five Process Standards. 

 

1) Problem solving

 

2) Reasoning and Proof

 

3) Communication

 

4) Connections

 

5) Representation

 

I am good at analysing word problems; I am a whiz at strategy games and beat my brother at RISK every time. Yes, RISK. - The military strategy game that challenges players to complete their military goals before their opponents does. I problem solved and justified my ideas through logical arguments with my brother during the game of RISK. Now don’t you agree it looks like I do have a very mathematical mind since I am so good at strategy games?

 

Also, I realized how important it is for students to see that mathematical concepts are connected to the real world and other disciplines. It is important for them to realize that the ideas behind learning the five content standards in school were preparing themfor the ultimate goal of being savvy, productive, efficient and successful at work in the future.

 

I hope to constantly reviewed and touched upon the content standards in my classroom through hands-on and experiential activities. They are often interlinked to one another. I strongly believe in hands-on activities and for instance in a planting activity, children can learn the above content areas. It is our instructional approach that guides the children's learning and thinking processes.

 

Lastly, I could not agree more that persistence, positive attitude, readiness for change and reflective disposition are definitely the necessary traits in becoming a teacher of mathematics!

Have a good laugh people. :)