What I have learned about math and blogs

Well bloggers my college math class is nearing the end, which means that this blog is nearing its end as well. I must say that I have learned quit a bit about math and different strategies for teaching it. I have learned that no child learns exactly the same way so there for I will need to have many tools in my tool box to make sure that as a math teacher I am able to reach out and teach every child. I have realized that it is going to be crucial for me to keep myself educationed on all the new strategies and techniques that are available so that I can continue to keep my students educated as well.
Another thing that I have learned throughout this course is how to use a blog. I was a little nervous and confused about blogging and to tell you the truth I still am. I have come to the conclusion though that learning how to create and read blogs may be essential when becoming a teacher. At first I really didn't know what the point of creating a blog was, but after a few weeks and hours of thought I think I have figured it out. I believe that technology and knowing how to use it is very essential for teachers. Many of the things that teachers do these days are on a computer and I will have to learn as much as I can. I know that there is a very good chance that blogging will be part of a daily routine as a teacher and so the more that I can learn about it know the better off I will be. I truley believe that that is the reason why I was assigned to create a blog. To learn and understand just one more aspect of teaching and learning alike.

Hands on Learning

I believe that is is very important to keep learning math fun and hands on for all students, but even more important for the younger students. Math can get very complicated very quickly and if students are starting to fall behind it is important that you do not move on to the next thing until all aspects of what is being taught are taught. I read an article titled "Mr. Poppers Penguin" and learned a lot about math and how to teach it. I learned that it is important to try to keep abstractions to a minimum when teaching younger children algebra. For example do not introduce variables like x and y. This has a tendency to throw many students off. I also learned that using key words like "left over" and "total" can really help children identify with the problem that they are working on.
After reading this article I really got to thinking about what I could do to make sure that I am doing everything that I can to reach out to all of my students. So I tried to think more like an Elementary math student. I realized that perhaps if students where asked to bring small objects from home like pencils, erasers, jelly beans, marbles, etc. that that may help them engage more in what they are learning. It may put a more personal tough on the problem at hand. It may also inspire them to do more hands on work at home.
Another thing that I thought of was integrating math and reading. Many students have a tendency to strive in one subject but not in another. If there is a way to integrate both math and reading into your classroom maybe it will reach out to more students and make more students feel successful, regardless of what subject they may be working on.