It is important for teachers to think about how they want to teach and why they want to teach before they step into a classroom. Each teacher should set goals for their students and for themselves that they will accomplish throughout their teaching. My main goal as a secondary mathematics teacher will be for my students to succeed not only in their mathematics classes, but also in their life overall.
I feel that a safe environment for students is essential for successful learning. In a student-centered classroom the needs of the student can be expressed openly without fear of criticism from me or the other students. Enthusiasm can be contagious. Making topics in math interesting for the student population can allow for the “light bulb” to finally go off in the student’s head. Once understanding is achieved, they will be eager to learn more. One thing I have found students to ask is, “When will I ever use this?” After each lesson, I will use what I have taught them and relate it to real world examples such as, sports or shopping, to show them math will be used in their lives.
Not every student learns the same way. This is why it is important to use multiple methods of teaching in a classroom. In a math classroom, students are used to a teacher up at the board showing them how to do the problem. However, it is necessary for the student to understand why they are doing the problem a certain way and when they are supposed to use this method. This is why teaching directly is not always the best way for student comprehension. You can encourage the students to answer open-ended questions together, allow for brainstorming, and guide their path to the correct solution. Encourage students that there is not only one way to arrive at an answer. Group projects or activities can also allow for collaboration of ideas and problem solving. I have noticed that some students find math vocabulary and word problems to be a challenge. In my teaching I will help make these tasks easier for my students, so that they can complete more challenging assignments in the future. Teaching, using methods other than direct teaching, allows for problem solving skills to develop that students can use in real life situations.
In an attempt to make mathematics more interesting for my students I will use multiple ways of teaching and multiple ways of assessing my students. An informal evaluation can take place throughout questioning in the classroom setting and review of class work. Quizzes and tests are essential tools to ensure their mastery of the concepts presented in class. These forms of assessment are not the only ways to assess the student’s progress. By doing a hands-on activity or project, students can show their knowledge of the material in a creative form. An example can be students creating questions for their peers in order to review for an exam.
Evaluation of my students will be completed to see how well they understand the material presented. This information gathered will help me to understand what I need to teach better or review. I will test out different methods to determine which work best with certain topics and which work best for my students. I will informally assess how well my students learn with these methods and will keep my focus on those techniques that work best. I strive to reach out to all of my students so that they all can learn the material and succeed. I will absorb what I observe in the classroom and use this information to criticize my own teaching and tweak my lessons for the future. School is not only a learning experience for my students, but it is a learning experience for me as well. Situations may arise while I am teaching where I need to alter my lessons so the students understand the material. It is important for me to be flexible while creating lessons and have other ways of presenting the material prepared as a back-up plan to ensure that my students grasp the content.
As a teacher I want to make an impact on my students’ learning. I want to motivate them to learn and succeed overall in their lives. I think in order to accomplish this goal it is important to realize that every student learns differently and at a different pace. I strive to recognize my students’ differences and be able to accommodate them while teaching to the class as a whole, thus allowing every student the opportunity to learn.