My Philosophy of Math Education
As a math major that is also studying to be a teacher, not only am I am writing about my philosophy of math but also about educating others in the subject of math. The philosophy of math involves making inferences and guesses, but being able to back them up using facts. It is the activity or practice of teaching mathematics. Since a philosophy is a way of thinking, a philosophy of math is a way of thinking about math and coming up with techniques to solve problems.
Even though math can be challenging, it can also be fun and exciting. Unlike other areas like philosophy and psychology where there are no definite answers, math needs proofs to support the facts. In math, one must seek out patterns to make conjectures. It requires students to have to really think to solve problems. By the students demonstrating techniques of solving certain math problems, they will develop an understanding of how to go about solving problems both inside and outside of the classroom. Math can help us make important decisions and perform everyday tasks. Student’s need to be educated in all subjects, but math education can be applied to many different aspects of a person’s life. For instance, it can be very beneficial when solving practical problems, buying a car, following a recipe and decorating one’s home.
I believe that the aim of math education is to develop one’s ability to analyze the uses of mathematics and what it provides in the way of applications to everyday problems and situations. All students need to actively involve themselves in mathematics-based projects, which focus on its various purposes. In order for students to move on to the next grade with upper level mathematics, they must have a strong foundation in some basic math facts. Reflecting on what I have learned from education classes and student teaching, simply completing worksheets and doing problems on the board is redundant and boring for children. Having the students work in groups with technology and hands-on activities must be incorporated into the curriculum encouraging the students to think for themselves. Teaching strategies in which I would use in my classroom include cooperative learning, graphic organizers, the jigsaw technique, role playing and other methods to get the students actively involved. Using manipulatives such as cubes, foam shapes and dry-erase boards throughout my math lessons really made the problems more concrete and easier for the students to visualize.
Students enter the classroom with various types of learning styles, attitudes, family backgrounds and ideas of mathematics. As a teacher it will be my role to provide different ways for the students to grasp and understand the information. My student teaching experiences at Temple Hill Academy and Fostertown Elementary School and my observing experiences at many other schools have taught me how critical teaching mathematics to elementary school students is for establishing a foundation of success in mathematics and other subjects. Therefore, I am encouraged to use all of the techniques I have learned to make my classroom the best possible learning environment for my future students to grow in.