I, too, have experience with Math for Elementary Teachers. A 500-level
course (!) it was about equivalent to our community colege Math 27--a
slightly post-developmental course.
I think students would be greatly benefited if elementary teachers who
are math-negative (most of them, in my experience) would just stay away
from math and stick to teaching reading. I know some elementary teachers
who are _excellent_ math teachers. How lucky their students are.
I was punished (!) in third grade for showing my seat-mate how to do
operations that resulted in negative answers. The teacher ridiculed me by
showing me two pieces of chalk and challenging "Let me see you subtract
five pieces and leave me with negative three pieces!" I was humiliated and
didn't participate in class for a very long time. Fortunately--like your
niece-- I had lots of math-positive support at home, so survived to be a
math major.
I think if we gave more positive reenforcement to teachers for being
subject-area-competent rather than for merely being innovative or
nurturing (desirable, perhaps, but clearly not sufficient
characteristics for a teacher) we might be able to encourage more
math-positive persons to enter elementary teaching.
[Side thought: It seems pretty clear that it is extremely hard to turn a
math-negative teacher into a math-positive teacher. (I know of no
examples.) Is it any easier to do it for adult students?]
John M. Flanigan <johnf@hawaii.edu> The equation is the final arbiter.
Math Resource Instructor --Werner Heisenberg
Kapi'olani Community College The scoreboard is the final arbiter.
Honolulu, Hawaii --Bill Walton
On Sat, 1 Feb 1997, Jodi wrote:
> >In a message dated 97-01-29 12:07:44 EST, dwhitfie@warrior.mgc.peachnet.edu
> >(Donna whitfield) writes:
> >
> ><< if we are going to fix the problem it must be addressed at the
> > elementary level. Attitudes are developed at an early age and are very
> > difficult to change later life. >>
> >
> >I agree. I heard that the majority of students have decided whether or not
> >they are good at math by the 3rd. grade--and tht this decision is very
> >unlikely to change in their later years of school.
> >
> >Are there any elementary school teachers on this list who could share their
> >experiences with us? Thanks...
> >
> >
> >Mark Harbison
> >Whittier, CA
>
> Mark,
>
> I am not an elementary school teacher. At this time I am a graduate student
> in mathematics and I graduate teaching assistant. I have taught high
> school and community college in the past. My experience with elementary
> teachers has been from my neice. Coming home to me in the 3rd grade
> telling me that her teacher and all her classmates hated math. The teacher
> had related this to her students! I was appalled! My sister stopped me
> from calling the teacher, I wish I would have done so. The next year my
> niece came home once again from school, disgusted because her teacher could
> not tell her why she could not divide by zero. The teacher said "Just
> believe me, you can't". It took me about 2 minutes to explain it to her
> with a simple example and she understood. The next day she returned to
> school and proceeded to explain it to her teacher!
>
> I am currently teaching a class called "Mathematics for Elementary
> Teachers". I am worried about the attitudes of some of my students with
> teaching math. I would not want them teaching anyone I know math!!! They
> just want to "get through the class". My niece, now 15, still loves math.
> She will be taking AP Calculus when she is a senior in high school. I am
> glad I was able to have a positive effect on her while she was still in
> elementary school. It worries me when I think about the children that do
> not have someone at home or in school that loves (I would settle for even
> liking math or putting on a good act!) Attitude of the parents and
> teachers is so imprortant!
>
> If anyone has any ideas I can pass onto my students that are our future
> elementary teachers, I would appreciate what you have to offer. I try to
> show them all the joy and love I have for math, make it exciting ad fun.
> I can only do so much, the rest is on them to change their attitude.
>
> Thanks. I am a new subscriber and am enjoying your discussions.
>
> Jodi Cotten
>
> Jodi
> jodi@primenet.com
> Galations 5:22
>