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 schol 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 and 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