It is an undeniable fact that mathematics surrounds our everyday lives. Although it is required and used for many of the mundane things we do, this field of study trains the mind in clear and rigorous thinking and has led human kind to find the truest and deepest essence of the world around. It is my belief that through a presentation of context that is useful and the incorporation of differentiated instruction, teachers can become facilitators of mathematical knowledge and aid students in becoming full and active citizens.
The importance of learning mathematics is not only so that individuals can perform simple computations without a calculator, but also to aid students in thinking critically and becoming active problem solvers. I believe that it is the educator’s responsibility to design instruction so that students will learn through doing, rather than simply copying. Through the use of scaffolding, the teacher is able to guide the student through the computational process until he or she is ready to work independently.
In order to reach each student, various avenues of learning must be encompassed; through the implementation of differentiated instruction, the educator can incorporate and consider each student’s diverse experiences, interests, and abilities into each math lesson. This can be done through visual, auditory, and/or kinesthetic measures. This will help students understand that mathematics is something that does apply to the world around us, and is not just something we do inside of the classroom. In order to keep students’ attention, the teacher must utilize supplementary materials and avoid teaching from a textbook alone. In doing so, the educator is able to incorporate current events, applicable mathematical scenarios, and various forms of technology in order to help today’s students view the material as a relevant part of the world they live in outside of the classroom.
Through patience, hard work, and dedication the teacher becomes a catalyst of mathematical knowledge. A classroom that promotes and encourages various styles of learning as well as demonstrates the use and practicality of mathematics in our world today, is one that gives every student the opportunity to become an effective problem solver in every aspect of life.