I believe that one of the best ways to learn something is to do it. You can get all the lectures, notes, and discussions but eventually you need to actually get your hands dirty. Well I'll be honest I am scared to death of this activity. I liken kids to an audience at a stand up comedy club. If you aren't funny it will be painfully obvious. But if you kill the feeling will be unlike anything else.
My expectations are that I can first identify with the students. We all have something in common, its just a matter of tapping into it. I hope to get off to a good start and set the tone for the hour. Next, I really want the students to get a sense of 'there is more than one way to do it'. I think the idea that there is only one 'right' way is a major obstacle to true progress in mathematics education. Lastly, I hope to build my confidence behind the wheel in a classroom.
Currently I have a good deal of anxiety about the process. I worry that my group and I aren't working as a group and therefore won't perform well. I don't want to flounder like a fish out of water. I am really concerned that our differences as individuals are getting in the way of completing this task. I thought that by Graduate School we would understand how to work in a group. How do we expect our students to master it if we can't? Charles, I hope you are right and everything will work out fine.
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3 comments:
trust the team and your colleagues.
Umbuntu..."I am because we are"
I shared in the anxiety too. I focused on engineering the lesson and did not have enough time to finish the plan before Tuesday and it showed. I was amazed with the students; however, when the graphs were plotted, the students recognized the reason for the curve. I am impressed with their level of understanding. I have a greater appreciation about teaching and what teachers do!!!
I think everyone is anxious about going into the classroom with new methods of teaching. It makes it more complicated because we have to think more about how to teach and not about just showing students how we would solve a mathematics problem. Don't worry to much. Make a plan that you are confident in and execute. Be confident in your plan and desired outcome and guide the students where you want them to go.
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