tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495150512757148016.post7848131842371106765..comments2023-05-17T05:48:54.016-07:00Comments on My Journey So Far...: Math That Keeps Me Up At NightAdriannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027852303617033065noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495150512757148016.post-46540918836100094332016-11-24T08:38:05.967-08:002016-11-24T08:38:05.967-08:00Kelli,
You are right the part of the problem is we...Kelli,<br />You are right the part of the problem is we only have the students for one year and don't really get to see the fruits of our labor. While the research supports teaching for understanding will get the students farther in math, does it work if it is just for one year? This is why I believe the role of district math coaches, providing professional development for math teachers is so important. Unfortunately my district does not have one. Like you point out though, it would be interesting to have this conversation K-12 and focus on what math truly is instead of rules that will help with standardized tests. I think students would enjoy math so much more.Adriannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14027852303617033065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495150512757148016.post-72355173504746660732016-11-23T17:36:14.596-08:002016-11-23T17:36:14.596-08:00I'm a 4th grade teacher, and I could've wr...I'm a 4th grade teacher, and I could've written this exact post! I struggle with the same questions all year long. If I continue teaching for understanding, my students don't perform as well on standardized tests. However, they understand what they are doing, and why they are doing it, more than most. I wish we were in the same district. It would be nice to know if it pays off as the students move on from me. Do they remember all the things we worked so hard to understand? Does that save later teachers time because the understanding is already there? I feel like if we could all focus on math understanding for the first 7-8 years of school, and forget standardized test performance, the students would end up performing better when it really matters in high school and at exit level. Right? Because they would have a good, solid understanding of math . . . am I crazy?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com