There's More to Math

Idea: We do things, without knowing we do it.

Reflection 1: This comment from math class a couple of weeks ago was important to me because it not only applies to just math, but to many things we do every day. These are the things that are so second nature to us. I think that it is important for math to become something second nature because math is all around us, whether we notice it or not. We do small calculations, estimations, find patterns, and process a lot of information at once in our heads as well as multi-task in our environment. There are a lot of variables around us, as well as statistics and spaces. Learning new math concepts works the brain. It takes a while for these things to become second nature. I think that is why learning time is so precious for these understandings to ground themselves. For students to be successful they need to practice and rehearse these new things. For example, I still need to use my fingers to calculate 6x8. Many people can come up with the answer automatically. It takes practice and exposure to something many times until it truly sticks. It's like learning another language. When you are not immersed within the language it makes it a whole lot harder to become fluent.

Reflection 2: I definitely want a fluency for my students, and I want a fluency or myself. After my first practicum, I felt that I would never again have fluency, a sense of confidence in my practice. I think you can always start over when you learn. I know that we are life long learners. Once we stop learning, or chose to stop learning, I don't think it is impossible to begin a learning journey again. You may be bruised a little, but it's not impossible. For one student in my last practicum, I think the above idea didn't really apply to her new adjustment to the classroom. I think perhaps she didn't do things, without knowing that she could. She needed stimulus, someone to lead her. I don't think I did enough to help her, but I recognize now that there are many sides to a learner and encouraging them to enrich themselves in the lesson can't hurt.