First and foremost... I taught math! Like a real, honest-to-goodness math class to a bunch of eager Grade 5 students! I can't believe that I'm saying this (and I don't think that one-year-ago me would believe this either), but math was one of my favourite subjects to teach! There's something about getting up there and teaching a subject that you're relearning (because it has been a LONG time since I was in Grade 5), that just gets the juices flowing.
Now don't take all this excitement the wrong way - there were definitely some interesting learning experiences along the way. Take for instance, the fact that we didn't have a classroom... Yes, that's right! We took fifteen Grade 5 students into the library, with very few resources, and a rollable white board. Then, to make it even better, half way through the week we moved to a Grade 1 classroom that wasn't being used during the period. If that doesn't make you become creative, then I don't know what does!
It wasn't just last year though that I expanded my math experiences. I have the lucky opportunity to be able to have a Mum who is a teacher. This summer, she switched from Grade 8 to Grade 3 so she needed to completely redo her classroom.
*Cue me to swoop in to the rescue*
As I filled my daughterly duties to help my Mum, one of my jobs to set up the classroom was to set up math manipulative trays. I am OBSESSED with these. Each table group gets a tray, and filled in to each tray is almost every type of math manipulative you could imagine. Each time math class starts, you whip out all the manipluatives, and every student gets to use whatever their heart desires. How can you go wrong with such a phenomenal idea?!
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| Elizabeth O'Brien. (August 2017). Math Manipulative Table Trays [photograph]. |
I love those manipulative trays! I love that your mum has them out as a foregone conclusion in her classroom. I think having them out in that manner does so much for the students in her classroom: not only are they always accessible and logistically convenient, but she's creating a classroom culture whereby different learning styles are being privileged and honored. This has given me #inspo for my future classroom!
ReplyDeleteLizzy, you have such a wonderful attitude! Definitely showing off your growth mindset. You're totally right, it will be worth it. We need to ensure we can manage our Math anxiety so we can encourage students to overcome their own! Love the manipulative trays!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the idea of having manipulative trays accessible for every student! I think sometimes there is a misconception that only students who struggle with math need manipulatives when, in reality, manipulatives are beneficial to all students! The visual and tactile aspect of manipulatives really help to make abstract concepts more concrete and to encourage kids to take risks and explore ideas. At the school where I had my placement last year, they were discussing using money from the budget to create take-home manipulative packages that students could use when they are continuing to explore and develop their math skills at home.
ReplyDeleteLizzy you most definitely have the positive attitude glowing through your first post back. Those manipulative show great organization skills in the classroom and will be great for the students to have the opportunity to build and explore with manipulatives. I enjoyed reading about your first math teaching experience. You had to be flexible and accommodating with the changing of classroom setting and I'm sure you did it with great fashion and a positive attitude.
ReplyDeleteGreat start to your blog Elizabeth. You have an engaging writing style and I appreciate that you candidly share your experiences. As we go forward also tie in the readings, math mindset modules, webinars (once they start) and even how you are applying new strategies and ideas to your unit planning.
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