Algebra is simple as Pie Going through elementary school math was just another subject for me. It was actually simple to me. There were easy problems like two plus two equals four and five times five equals twenty-five. In high school, math turns into algebra I, algebra II, geometry, trigonometry, and other advance math classes. Algebra II was my toughest subject, and most of the students were failing the class. Despite my conspiracy theory that algebra was created by Satan, I figured out a way to make it simpler. Later on in the semester, I showed my teacher ways to make the class easier and simpler. Offering tutoring was a great idea that I told my teacher. If my teacher offered after school tutoring she would have more time to teach
Last spring I was part of a tutor agency that provided activities to students from 1st – 6th grade. Such agency main purpose was to give students a set of mathematical problems or English pieces of reading in order for them to have an outstanding outcome on these two subjects at school. During my tutoring sessions I had a 4th grade student named Carolina who had a difficult time keeping focus, understanding the concept, and fully interested. She preferred texting in the middle of our session or making excuses to go to the restroom. I honestly felt helpless for her, and I didn’t know what to do and how to help her raise her grades. I realized that our tutoring sessions weren’t any help for Carolina since her mom showed me her grades which got worse. I finally decided to plan my tutoring session with her ahead of time, so I can make it interesting and more effective for her to learn but in a fun way. I choose to get different colorful cards, markers, and everything that could grave attention. When our session started I used those markers and cards to show her how to solve a mathematical problem by color coding every different step of the problem. Later, I asked her to show me the mathematical process she used in a similar problem by using those colorful cards and markers. Apparently, I make her use all these fun utensils that made the learning process more fun and effective. At the end of our session, I gave Carolina a quiz regarding the content we covered, and she did make a progress. I noticed that for Carolina the use of colors at every different step actually made her learn. Maybe it was due to the strategy that I showed her and the ability for her to remember those steps by associating them with each color which I was amazed an...
In the movie Hidden Figures they used many Standards of Math Practices. In the movie there are three colored women that work as computers at NASA. The names of the women are Katherine Goble Johnson, Dorothy Vaughn, and Mary Jackson. These women jobs show some examples of Standards of Math Practices.
My experiences with tutoring others has taught me that it satisfies me to help others understand and learn. As you teach others you learn about the different ways you handle situations and solve issues as well. I’ve always been the person that my classmates come up to for help, but it wasn’t till grade 10 until I officially started tutoring math, mainly Pre-Calculus 12. In grade 11, I continued tutoring, but this time I focused on a single individual, and that brought up challenges of creating a suitable relationship, that becomes the foundation for effective learning. This year, I took on a challenge, my teacher asked me to be a mentor towards a student with learning disabilities who was struggling with school. I
Although tutoring has shaped me into a better person, teaching and watching kids learn has made me realize that I can always work harder to achieve my
If I were in Amber’s situation and I decided to stay at the school I would be persistent with principal in allowing me work with the teachers on instructional matters. Even though he might be against...
First, i’ll start off by saying that math is not my strongest area. So for me, my whole life I have gone through my math classes really having to study hard and spending a lot of extra hours making sure that I understood the material. I remember math in elementary school being very simple for me. I was actually one of the best in my class. I was always the one to finish my multiplication tables first and to get the highest grades on the tests. This was not where the issue began in my life. When I got to middle school I was placed in a regular math class, not a honors or any of the higher level classes. To me, this was really upsetting, because all of my “smart” friends were in the honor classes. To not be put in that class was heartbreaking to me, because I knew my potential was much larger than a
Second, you need to think what sort of tutor are you looking for. Someone to just give you a bit of guidance every once in a while or perhaps a full-time teacher to help you during each step of the way? Tip 3: Listen to Your Tutor
Growing up math was always my strong subject, even though I never really applied myself, I was just going off what my teachers over the years have been telling me. I have never really went into depth with the things I was learning. Which is my downfall, and where my area of improvement is. In elementary school math was a breeze for me, since it was basically common sense to learn the material. However, when I got to middle school math had proven to be a challenge for me. Seventh grade math didn't really concern me, it was when I started eighth grade math, and got introduced to Algebra. It didn't help out at all that my teacher was notorious for failing many students before me and being a “bad” math teacher. I despised that class everyday for
I’m glad that I got into Algebra I. I wanted to be challenged in math, and I previously wasn’t. My teachers were too busy helping those that needed help on the things we were learning as grade level standards.
Every school year my general feeling and perspective toward math changes slightly. Since about fourth grade, when the curriculum started getting a little harder, I still felt that good grades came naturally to me. I never had to try really hard or study for hours on end jus...
For the majority of my education, I have had the fortune of having most subjects come naturally to me. I have also always challenged myself to complete all academic assignments to the best of my abilities. However, as high school approached, I soon discovered what my academic weakness is. A subject I can personally acknowledge I have had difficulty in and is undeniably my weakness is math.
There are many reasons why Algebra matters in life. One reason that comes to mind is from an early age, your understanding and success in algebra can help build math confidence, notable achievements in high school coursework and college readiness, and more importantly help predict one’s salary earnings on so many levels. As one would know that nearly all sports statistics are produced using algebraic equations. Average points per game are used to determine the Most Valuable Player. Winning percentages are used to determine top rankings. These are calculated with concepts learned in Algebra. Formulas are a part of our lives, whether we drive a car and need to calculate the distance, or need to work out our food volume intake for dieting; algebraic formulas are used every day without us even realizing it.
As a secondary subject, society often views mathematics a critical subject for students to learn in order to be successful. Often times, mathematics serves as a gatekeeper for higher learning and certain specific careers. Since the times of Plato, “mathematics was virtually the first thing everyone has to learn…common to all arts, science, and forms of thought” (Stinson, 2004). Plato argued that all students should learn arithmetic; the advanced mathematics was reserved for those that would serve as the “philosopher guardians” of the city (Stinson, 2004). By the 1900s in the United States, mathematics found itself as a cornerstone of curriculum for students. National reports throughout the 20th Century solidified the importance of mathematics in the success of our nation and its students (Stinson, 2004). As a mathematics teacher, my role to educate all students in mathematics is an important one. My personal philosophy of mathematics education – including the optimal learning environment and best practices teaching strategies – motivates my teaching strategies in my personal classroom.
The drive to learn more and share what I learned exposed me. After fulfilling the algebra requirement, I realized that I enjoyed algebra. So I took more math classes, just for the fun of it. I stayed up late, working additional problems, caught up in the thrill of understanding. I became an unofficial tutor, helping my classmates with factoring and linear equations. It was fun helping them learn. Whipping around the room from one student to the next was exhilarating! "Have you ever thought of becoming a math teacher?
...re encompassing way, it becomes very clear that everything that we do or encounter in life can be in some way associated with math. Whether it be writing a paper, debating a controversial topic, playing Temple Run, buying Christmas presents, checking final grades on PeopleSoft, packing to go home, or cutting paper snowflakes to decorate the house, many of our daily activities encompass math. What has surprised me the most is that I do not feel that I have been seeking out these relationships between math and other areas of my life, rather the connections just seem more visible to me now that I have a greater appreciation and understanding for the subject. Math is necessary. Math is powerful. Math is important. Math is influential. Math is surprising. Math is found in unexpected places. Math is found in my worldview. Math is everywhere. Math is Beautiful.