Everyone Sees a Problem Differently

This is the main thing that I learned during this quarter; that everyone has a different way of thinking and seeing math. Of course, we hope that our students aren't like Lou Abbott of Abbott and Costello from the video above, but it is important to realize that we all approach a math problem differently.

What I enjoyed mostly from the class was the way to teach math using manipulatives, art, and other disciplines to reach a student. A teacher has to realize that there are linear thinkers and that there are creative thinkers and no matter where a student falls, math can be taught to reach all of them. It takes but only a minute during this age of technology to look up a hands on way to teach math. But most importantly, you have to reach a student and that may be by teaching a concept in a few different ways. That is what this class did. We created posters, we used technology, we cut paper and colored, we made spit balls, we solved riddles.... and during all this we learned math and how it relates to our everyday lives.

I loved the class and can't wait to use some of these strategies within my own classroom.