I will use this blog to explore my own experiences with Math, to explore new possibilities in teaching Math to children and also to reflect on my own experiences. I will use my reflections to help me teach my own class. I will learn from my own horrible experiences to put myself in the child's place so I can give them the best learning environment.

This is my first reflection from the first day of class:

During the first class when Professor Cameron asked who liked math, who hated math etc., I got to thinking about my own Math experiences. All during Primary/ Elementary school, I've had really positive experiences. My teachers were always encouraging me to try and solve the challenge problem or to find another way to find the solution. I became to enjoy Math very much. But when I came to Junior high I realized that I never got that much encouargement from my teachers but I got it more so from my parents. After transferring schools, my grades were not the best except in Math. So my mom would sit with me and ask me to explain my Math homework to her. Then she got me to teach her what I was learning. It just made me realize that my enjoyment of Math would not have continued except for the support of my mother and father.

Another thing that latched onto my thoughts from class is the topic of passion. Professor Cameron and from the video were saying to me that because of the "more important" subjects some people do not get to continue with what they love. Personally my intention in coming to Memorial was to do a Math focus area. I was intent on it but during high school my advanced Math grades were not "good enough" to continue with advanced Math in my last year of high school. That in turn affected my chance of continuing with Math while at MUN. Because I was told that I should drop back to academic Math, I felt that I would not succeed with Math at the univeristy level. I did not realize how strongly I was affected from my high school until Tuesday's class.

I realize that I will try my best not to hinder my students the way my Math teacher hindered me.