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The Power of Confidence!
Skills and abilities recognized as superior to others, or greatly improved over time create confidence.
This applies to diverse learners of mathematics...as well as teachers of mathematics.
The Value of Perseverance!
As adults, we are seldom asked or told to repeatedly try to do really hard things when we don’t want to. If we find things frustrating, hard, or of little interest, we are free to choose other things to occupy our time and energy.
Math teachers who know their curriculum and their students as math learners can:
Anticipate and prepare for students who may struggle
provide support and encouragement before anxiety and doubt kick in
plan opportunities for early successes
provide for multiple opportunities of stress free assessment
celebrate student perseverance, regardless of outcomes or level of success
The Power of Shared Goals!
If your goal is to teach math to a diversity of students, it must be clear to the students you teach.
If the goal for your students is to improve in mathematics, it shouldn't matter to anyone where they begin.
The Value of Putting Yourself Out There!
For the TEACHER
Math teachers who wish to improve their ability to teach mathematics are putting themselves out there.
Will others judge me?
What if I can't do it?
I might fail. Then what?
I know it's going to be hard. Do I have the energy and time to do it?
The Value of putting yourself out there:
Your students are worth it!
You can impact real change for some students who previously struggled with mathematics
Colleagues may follow suit and step up their math instruction
Your student will thank you!
For the STUDENT
Students who wish to improve their understanding of mathematics are putting themselves out there too:
If I put up my hand in class and I'm wrong, others will judge me
If I try my best on that worksheet I might still not be able to do it and look stupid
If I hand in that homework assignment I might fail...again
Do I really want to spend recess/lunch inside with the teacher? I want to spend my energy and time outside with my friends.
The Value of your students learning to put themselves out there:
Improved confidence
Improved motivation
Decreased off-task behaviours
Greater success
Increased peer support
Improved attitude towards mathematics
Greater work completion
The Power of Positive Feedback, Small Successes and Bigger Accomplishments
The roll of the exceptional math teacher is to recognize in each of their students what they need in order to be successful. These 3 are paramount in order to foster and nurture diverse math learners. The right timing for positive feedback, acknowledgement of perseverance, celebrating hard work and risk taking, and rewarding accomplishments (both small and large) grows a classroom community that shares the goal of improving the learning of mathematics.
Interestingly, the notion that the right timing for positive feedback, acknowledgement of perseverance, celebrating hard work and risk taking, and rewarding accomplishments (both small and large) grows a teacher's confidence in their ability to improve their teaching of mathematics.
*If you would like more information, or if you would like to work together to grow your ability to teach math to diverse learners, feel free to send me an email at
mathdiversity@gmail.com
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