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About Me!
About Me!
Hi! My name is Kaitlyn Balestrieri, and I am a sophomore Mathematics Secondary Education major aspiring to teach middle or high school math. Ironically, I struggled with math through grades K-8, so I understand the challenges of learning math. However, I intend to share with my students how useful and fun math can be! Below, I have highlighted five important culturally relevant strategies I will practice in my classroom.
'Real World' Word Problems
'Real World' Word Problems
Usage of Aids (visual and physical manipulatives)
Usage of Aids (visual and physical manipulatives)
Recognizing ALL student achievements
Recognizing ALL student achievements
Mindful Activities Before Teaching
Mindful Activities Before Teaching
Acknowledging Math Anxiety
Acknowledging Math Anxiety
'Real World' Word Problems
'Real World' Word Problems
Summary: Gutstein explores how math can be used to understand and address issues like gentrification and neighborhood displacement. He argues that math is not just a neutral tool but a way to analyze social problems, such as rising housing prices and their impact on marginalized communities. Gutstein advocates for teaching math in a way that connects real-world issues to the curriculum, encouraging students to use math for social justice and to critically engage with the forces shaping their communities.
Ex Adapting Strategy: I would ask students to research homes on the market in the area where the school is located and have them calculate the percentage change in rents or property values over time. They can graph the data and analyze trends, such as rising rents or property values. We would all discuss the social impact of these changes and reflect on how we used math to reveal patterns of displacement.
Usage of Aids (visual and physical manipulatives)
Usage of Aids (visual and physical manipulatives)
Summary: According to the article, an integrated approach is essential to inspiring students to engage with math in a more relaxed setting. This helps improve real-world application skills and boost performance on standardized tests. Games and manipulatives are particularly effective, as they allow students to apply what they've learned practically while enhancing their math skills through interactive learning.
Ex Adapting Strategy: When I was learning math in high school, I always understood better when I was provided visuals. My geometry teacher encouraged students to use pencils to create angles so that we could see what it means for angles to be complementary or supplementary. I would use hand-held manipulatives when teaching geometry class and would try to incorporate them into other math classes as well.
Recognizing ALL student achievements
Recognizing ALL student achievements
Summary: Students should be able to communicate their achievements and challenges and set future goals. Educators are encouraged to provide positive feedback, highlighting students' strengths while addressing areas for improvement. It's important to recognize not only the students who continuously score well but also the students who have made improvements, even if their scores are not as high. Specht stresses the value of building strong student-teacher relationships and using conferences to motivate and empower students.
Ex Adapting Strategy: I will have students reflect on their performance in the class at multiple points throughout the year, and I will offer to have conferences with students who would like to discuss their evaluations with me. Having conferences will ensure the students are goal-oriented with the ultimate aim of fostering a growth mindset and continuing their academic success.
Mindful Activities Before Teaching
Mindful Activities Before Teaching
Summary: Integrating mindfulness into math instruction reduces stress, improves focus, and enhances learning. Barclay suggests fostering a growth mindset by focusing on the process rather than the outcome, encouraging gratitude and mindful listening, and ending lessons with reflective moments. These approaches aim to create a calm, focused environment that supports emotional well-being and academic success in math.
Ex Adapting Strategy: Before jumping into the material, I can start lessons with mindful breathing, encouraging present-moment awareness, using body awareness and positive self-talk, incorporating movement breaks, and practicing visualization techniques. Incorporating this into the classroom promotes social-emotional learning, which also reduces the anxiety that is commonly associated with math.
Acknowledging Math Anxiety
Acknowledging Math Anxiety
Summary: It is essential to create a supportive and low-stress learning environment, where students feel safe to make mistakes and learn from them. Strategies include normalizing the experience of struggle in math, promoting a growth mindset, and using relaxation techniques like deep breathing to calm anxiety. By focusing on effort and progress rather than perfection, these strategies help students reduce anxiety and develop a more positive relationship with math.
Ex Adapting Strategy: I want students to feel comfortable as soon as they walk into my classroom. One of the first things that students notice is how the room is decorated, so I will display words of encouragement and even put up posters that acknowledge math being intimidating. I will offer individualized support, break down complex problems into manageable steps, and encourage positive self-talk.
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