When we asked the teacher how she manages students with different abilities and work habits she said that she does not like to give her advanced students work which is ahead of the curriculum. Instead, she keeps them busy by giving them work that is broad in the subject and by encouraging them to help others. As a parent, I would like to have this teacher teach my kids, although this may not be a wish shared by some other parents. There are parents and kids who focus on raised goals, raising them as far ahead of curriculum as possible. I like my kids and my students to enjoy more stable growth and not be working ahead for one period then be bored the next, and then possibly even loose the academic momentum, work habits, and the ability to look into the subject deeper.
We were impressed that she was fond of using technology such as Tablet pc, overhead projector, and the Internet. The tablet pc appears quite helpful to give live displays of the graphical presentation, while she is facing the class.
When we asked her what she finds most rewarding about being a teacher she responded by saying that creating a safe environment where students feel understood and that they matter was on top of her list. She added that she enjoys the fact that she can focus and direct their attention to certain things without controlling them. Students on the other hand, are active participants in the learning process because of teacher’s ability to keep them interested in learning.
Showing genuine interest in students and listening helps determine their needs, which allows a teacher to adjust the curriculum accordingly. Offering help after school is very important because there are students who are shy and do not dare to ask questions in class. Being too shy to ask questions in class is not something I had ever previously given much thought about. Given that many students find math difficult she takes extra steps in motivating and even has quotations on her wall such as “It is the attitude not the aptitude that determines the altitude of you success” and “I-m-possible”.
Being a substitute teacher appears to be the most difficult position to be in because there was no relationship between the teacher and the students and she could not bring her own material to make her lesson more appealing. We may be in this position before we get a permanent job and it is good to know that.
Student's interview:
In addition, we interviewed a grade ten student whose strengths she stated are not in math. She shared her thoughts about her learning experiences as well as her emotions towards the subject of mathematics.
In the very beginning of our conversation with the student we gathered that she was one of those typical kids with fear of math. She said that math was the hardest subject and feels very nervous about it. Even if she knew that she is using the right methods to solve problems she was never fully confident about the outcome. The anxiety would usually be over once she had a confirmation that her answer was correct. As a result, she needed more time to complete her work in class.
When we asked what she liked about her teacher she said it was the fact that her teacher listens to her students and adjusts curriculum based on what she feels suits them. For example, the teacher allows them to take extra time to complete their exercises in class if necessary. One of the things she did not like about her teacher is that although she would give enough time to finish work in the classroom, she did not allow enough time to prepare for exams. Also, she would like her teacher to help her build confidence that she needs in order to tackle some of her mathematical challenges. She realizes the importance of math in her daily life. Some of the examples of math applications in her life were: addition and subtraction, percentages in the stores (for discounts), and interestingly she mentioned speed again.
One of the greatest discoveries about her learning was when we asked if she would like to have a career related to math. She answered that she was fascinated with proofs and how and why mathematical theories work. She is one of those kids who takes time to think what the meaning behind a quadratic equation, for example, is and not just trying to solve it quickly. This is why she is slow and needs extra time. From this article, we learnt that we as future educators must be aware of HOW students learn and maybe investigate the reasons why some students take longer to perform math operations.
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