Positive Norms to Encourage
During our most previous class we went through "Positive Norms to Encourage in Math Class" by Jo Boaler. There were 7 norms she went through and for the most part I would agree with them and try to ensure that they are implemented within the classroom.
For example one of the main ones that I agree with is that "Mistakes are Valuable". Too often I find that students are so focused on getting everything correct, that they are afraid to make any mistakes. As a result, if there is any doubt in their mind about something they will participate less in class, whether that's just asking the teacher a question, or volunteering to solve a problem. Not only that, they may not even be willing to try certain questions because they are afraid of getting it wrong. However, I would hope to ensure that students would not be afraid to make mistakes in class, because I agree that mistakes are helpful in learning. Mistakes allow students to show where they are not fully understanding the material, and where they should study more. Also, mistakes help to force our minds to rethink and reevaluate a question, and as a result this can lead to a deeper understanding then what a student may have had if they had simply just got the answer correct from the very beginning.
While I agreed with Jo Boaler's norms to encourage for the most part, the one I found the most difficult to apply was that "Math Class is about Learning not Performing". I understand the basic premise of the norm, as we don't want to stress students out with constant tests and exams, but we want to focus on their learning of the subject instead. Though, I do still think there is some importance though in performing, and not necessarily pertaining strictly to math, but in general being able to think and problem solve in a potentially stressful situation is an important skill to have. Also testing, can be a good form of feedback, and also a good motivator for students to succeed. Otherwise if testing and performing were less valued, the students may suffer from a lack of motivation and as a result their learning may be effected in a negative way.
Also I believe that it may be difficult to implement that "Math Class is about Learning not Performing" since as teachers we have strict curriculum that we must go through and that we need to evaluate students on. As a result it is hard to not put some emphasis on performing in the classroom since we want the students to do their best on these necessary pieces of evaluation. Also students who are within a university level class need to be prepared for what university will be like, where the entire focus is on tests and exams. So I think as a teacher it is necessary to get them prepared for this by ensuring they see the "Math Class is about Performing" side. However, I do understand that at the end of the day as a teacher I want to ensure that my students haven't just figured out how to do well on a test, but that they have learned the material and understand it deeply.
For example one of the main ones that I agree with is that "Mistakes are Valuable". Too often I find that students are so focused on getting everything correct, that they are afraid to make any mistakes. As a result, if there is any doubt in their mind about something they will participate less in class, whether that's just asking the teacher a question, or volunteering to solve a problem. Not only that, they may not even be willing to try certain questions because they are afraid of getting it wrong. However, I would hope to ensure that students would not be afraid to make mistakes in class, because I agree that mistakes are helpful in learning. Mistakes allow students to show where they are not fully understanding the material, and where they should study more. Also, mistakes help to force our minds to rethink and reevaluate a question, and as a result this can lead to a deeper understanding then what a student may have had if they had simply just got the answer correct from the very beginning.
While I agreed with Jo Boaler's norms to encourage for the most part, the one I found the most difficult to apply was that "Math Class is about Learning not Performing". I understand the basic premise of the norm, as we don't want to stress students out with constant tests and exams, but we want to focus on their learning of the subject instead. Though, I do still think there is some importance though in performing, and not necessarily pertaining strictly to math, but in general being able to think and problem solve in a potentially stressful situation is an important skill to have. Also testing, can be a good form of feedback, and also a good motivator for students to succeed. Otherwise if testing and performing were less valued, the students may suffer from a lack of motivation and as a result their learning may be effected in a negative way.
Also I believe that it may be difficult to implement that "Math Class is about Learning not Performing" since as teachers we have strict curriculum that we must go through and that we need to evaluate students on. As a result it is hard to not put some emphasis on performing in the classroom since we want the students to do their best on these necessary pieces of evaluation. Also students who are within a university level class need to be prepared for what university will be like, where the entire focus is on tests and exams. So I think as a teacher it is necessary to get them prepared for this by ensuring they see the "Math Class is about Performing" side. However, I do understand that at the end of the day as a teacher I want to ensure that my students haven't just figured out how to do well on a test, but that they have learned the material and understand it deeply.
Getting students to believe that mistakes are okay and part of learning is a challenge. Even in classrooms where teachers work hard on this we find students are hesitant to begin a problem if they aren't certain how to do it. What strategies do you think you could try to help them get over this? How will you create this culture? Some things to think about...
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your thoughts on making mistakes, especially in a math class. I have just recently accepted that it is okay to make mistakes, and how much I can learn from allowing myself the freedom to make mistakes or try something I'm not sure of. I think one of the biggest challenges we will face in our classrooms is creating a space where students feel comfortable enough to make mistakes without feeling like they are "not smart enough". I think maybe allowing ourselves, as teachers, to make mistakes in front of the class can help students realize that anyone can make a mistake and that it is okay to do so. It will also prove to them that a mistake does not equal your intelligence, and this could help students better understand that it is okay to not always be perfect. As well demonstrating that you may not always know the answer, but allowing yourself the opportunity to not know something gives us the opportunity to learn something new and in the long-run further our learning.
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