You are a Math Person: Promoting a Positive Math Identity with Students
Are you a math person? Do your students see themselves as math people? Students and teachers often hear that certain people are math people and others are not. The truth is that no one is born doing math, and everyone can get better and better at math. We also need to show students that being fast at calculations is not what makes someone good at math. Math takes hard work, thinking, problem solving, creativity, analytical skills, communication skills, and more. In short, there are many ways to be a math person. When we help students see they have many math strengths, they start to develop a positive math identity and see themselves as math people.
Should we teach students math shortcuts and tricks?
Shortcuts are a necessary part of math. If you are an efficient problem solver, you are likely using shortcuts that you have learned. The approach to shortcuts is what we must examine.
Are we showing students all the shortcuts without allowing time for them to understand why they work?
If we are showing students shortcuts, students are likely memorizing them in order to get an answer that day or pass a quiz that week. Memorization without understanding causes problems later. Without the conceptual understanding of what is happening, students forget. They apply the shortcuts at the wrong time, and they cannot extend them to other concepts. And it sends the message that math makes no sense, which may be the most worrisome outcome of all.
Read on for commonly misused shortcuts and what to do instead.
Why We Shouldn't Use Gradual Release Often in Math Class
Gradual release is a method of teaching where the teacher starts out by showing how to do a procedure. (I do.) Then, the class works on a problem together. (We do.) And then finally students do a problem themselves. (You do.) The teacher is gradually releasing the responsibility to the students, the responsibility of getting an answer.
If we look at the Standards for Mathematical Practice, gradual release is not conducive for most of them.