elliott937 wrote:
Well, I AM a math teacher, as well as a physics teacher. The math course? It's called Math for Teachers. In our state, every future teacher is required to take and pass a test that is rather unrealistic. For example, a future 3rd. grade teacher must show master of trig functions, equations with fractional exponents, and imaginary numbers, among others. Why? I have no clue. My job was to write a course to help college students to learn all these and much more. After six months of writing, I've created this course that has been offered for two semesters, and a new third semester begins next week.
On the first day of class, I will ask: "How many of you hate math?" The answer, so far, has been EVERYONE. Why, I ask? Answer is obvious. When they studied math in high school, algebra being an example, they did not understand what was going on. So the only recourse for them was to memorize everything to earn a decent grade, with the result being not only a decent grade, but a hatred for the subject. I fully understand all this. Soooo, I promise them I will offer all the above mentioned topics, plus 21 more, IF they will guarantee they will ask questions for clarity. To assure this, they have homework to do after every class, and a quiz on that homework the next class meeting. Of course, we discuss that homework, I invite questions so they become masters of the material.
By the third week (so far, knocking on my wood desk) I will hear comments like: "I'm now enjoying math", and "I look forward to coming to class". So algebra, geometry, trig, simultaneous equations, can all make sense as long as they have a teacher dedicated to achieving clarity and mastery.
By the way, so far, every student (future teacher) who has taken that state math test have passed the test.
And should you say that I "teach the test", my response is NO. I teach the broader topics the test covers.
It is unfortunate that so many people, to include my fellow UHH members, were in classes where *mastery and *fun didn't happen. (Yes, math can be fun too.)
Well, I AM a math teacher, as well as a physics te... (
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I taught the subject of mathematics for 38 years in NJ. However, I really taught the students. That is an important distinction. In HS, I failed Algebra I, took it in summer school and it took me 1.5 years to pass Geometry. Very long and involved story as to how I became a mathematics teacher. I have two Master's degrees and another 30 credits beyond. Life has interesting turnabouts. I loved my teaching career and am in contact with a good number of my former students.