Duece’s Philosophy

 

Mathematics first originated thousands of years ago with the goal of solving basic problems that humans faced. The main focus was to find a way to measure and communicate time, quantity, and distance. Math has progressed since then and the characteristics of the subject are now infinite and as math continues to advance, teachers and learners of math should have a philosophy to help give the subject purpose, meaning, and effectiveness in the classroom.

 

The two top reasons why I think math is important to be taught and learned by people are: it develops logical thinking skills and it is essential to gain problem solving skills used in all areas of life. As students of math we are exposed to many problems in each discipline under the subject. Each problem will require different ways to think about and solve. The more practice we get we begin to learn how to use these developed logical thinking and problem solving skills outside the classroom of mathematics. We can begin to use these skills in other classrooms that need problem solving and also in the real world when faced with real life applications. The topic of math goes far beyond just problems in the class room, the logical and problem solving skills that develop will be beneficial to yourself and those around you in all areas of life.

 

As I continue my education in the mathematical field and even beyond that I will always be a student of math. Students of math face a lot of variety as they continue learning more about the subject in different disciplines. They face a variety of challenges, approaches and skills. I believe students of math often find the subject itself “difficult but rewarding”. They all seem to feel accomplished after figuring out a tough problem or skill. Math students help each other out the most. I think students’ feedback on one another and various approaches help deepen a student’s understanding of mathematical concepts. Although students help one another out, teachers of math are the primary way to learn more math.

 

Teachers of math often have certain views on the importance of math and has driven them to become teacher because of it. I believe all teachers of math to some degree have grown to appreciate the subject more than most, some could say they appreciate it enough to use the word “love”. As a future teacher of mathematics, I believe it is necessary for my students to learn math concepts by hands on practice and engagement throughout the class. Observing students of math around me, I notice that most students learn best this way. I also believe that the appreciation of math, I have as a teacher, must be spread down to the students. If the students are able to appreciate the subject more than they came into the class with, then they will be more willing to learn about it.

 

Just like any other subject, math has roots in history, students and teachers. There are many similar and different characteristics between each of these areas in math, making this such a unique subject. The uniqueness of this subject makes it important for future teachers of mathematics to develop a philosophy for the subject and teaching it.