For the Love of Math

It's stories like this one that validate for me what teaching is all about.  I know the relationships we form with students and the connections we help them make with each other and the kindness we show them are far more important than the math formulas we ask them to memorize or equations we show them how to solve.

In my earlier years of teaching my focus was on covering the standards and making sure we got through all of them by the time the spring test came around; sometimes we would have to rush to get through some things.  But as the years have passed, my worries about these standardized tests have gone down significantly.  I still value the information they provide for us.  I want to see that my students are learning and growing; however, I also want my students to love learning and feel cared for in my classroom.

I do my best to connect with every student in my classroom every day.  Currently, I have an algebra 2 class of 37 students and I'm finding it is barely possible to talk to every student and that's frustrating to me.  Large class sizes take away from the personal learning experience; it feels more like a lecture hall than the interactive classroom I am more comfortable teaching in.  In fact, I despise public speaking; it gives me major anxiety and having a class of 37, I feel some anxiety bubbling up.  My typical classroom is an on-going dialog; I need the interaction.  With 37 students interaction varies from no one will participate (due to the large audience I'm also scared of) to everyone talking at once.  It's a new balance I'm having to figure out to get a classroom culture that works for my students.

One thing going for this large class is that we started the student reflection blogs.  I think that through my students' blogs I am, in a round about way, connecting with every student.  It may not be directly, but everyday my students are sending a message to me through their blog. I have been reading them everyday, responding when appropriate or when questions arise.  I create a prompt a week that includes something unrelated to math; letting the students have some fun with different topics and talking about themselves.  I am also writing my own posts to help students get to know me in blog world.

I like the idea that is shared in this article.  I am very passionate about connecting with those students who sometimes feel/seem disconnected.  Everyone has something to contribute, it's critical that teachers give students the platform on which students feel they can contribute.  

Great Teaching Story