For years I've managed to avoid dealing with math and taught language arts and a short stint of high school social studies. For a brief time, I taught third and fourth-grade math, but it wasn't an issue for me. It was easy. However, eventually, I was hired in a new district and learned that I would be teaching seventh and eighth-grade math. That's when it all began.
I didn't want to be a failure and at the same time, I didn't want to fail my kids. Thankfully, I had a great coach next door from my classroom who LOVES math and didn't hesitate to help me out whenever I asked her for it. I also used the many tutoring videos and programs out there to help me with any math concepts that stumped me, and I managed to get by. But I always felt like I was faking my way through each year. I didn't want to be that imposter anymore. I wanted to genuinely enjoy math and my kids to be able to see that I did. In order to do that, I had to understand the deeper concepts of math.
I'm at the start of my third year teaching middle school math, and decided to take a college math class for my professional development. I've asked myself several times in the past 4 weeks, what was I thinking?
I'm wrapping up my fourth week of the class and had my first test. Let's just say that I've got a lot of work to do. Thankfully I can retake the test.
From what I've learned so far math logic is where I'm the weakest. Finding the sum for consecutive numbers (whether they're all numbers, evens or odds) has stumped me, but I think I'm getting it now.
Set Theory. What the heck is that? If kids are confused with solving for x to their math problems, wait until they have to figure out what A∩B or A∪B or ∈ or ⊆ all stand for. And I'm just getting started!
On the bright side, when I've finished this course, and get an A (Yes. Yes I will.) I will definitely have expanded my knowledge in math and will be able to take something away from the course. I just have to make it there. Stay tuned....
