Through it all, I was a good person who needed support and caring. I see these characteristics in many of my students, and I know that they are also good people who need support and caring, not ultimatums or expressions of disappointment. I get “that student” because I was that student, and I’m always ready to support and encourage them when they decide to make a better choice.
I help students achieve these results by using inquiry-based learning to introduce a topic, followed by scaffolded notetaking and practice. I always encourage group work because I believe in the benefits of collaborative learning, but I always assess individually so each students’ mastery is being measured.
I use data to drive my instruction. As a database programmer, the use of spreadsheets is second nature to me, and I record every student’s assessment results in a way that tells me what they understand and what they still need to practice. This helps me know when students are ready to move forward, or when I need to reteach.
Finally, I want each student to know that they are capable of doing whatever math they encounter, so I make sure each student has the opportunity to experience success in my class.
Lesson Plan Sample
Inquiry lessons are how I prefer to introduce topics, allowing students to explore the topic and apply their knowledge in a low-stakes environment focused on group discussion and experimentation.
Homework Sample
Homework should serve the student’s needs, and students have different needs. I require students to complete three or four problems, and provide additional problems for extra practice. Answers are always on the back.
Classroom Resources
Some students require re-exposure to concepts outside of the classroom due to absences or other stumbling blocks on the path to mastery. I provide videos to explain the topics in the way that I teach them. A library of my own videos is a work in progress.