I thought I can easily teach Mathematics subject. I am always the contestant for Mathematics competition when I was in elementary and high school. I always get excellent grades in my report cards. So, I don’t have to bother this subject. But I went wrong. Many student teachers experienced teaching Math subject so complicated. It is because when they are just a student they have been considering Mathematics as difficult subject. However, I’m getting stuck into a problem not because I don’t even know Math at all; it is for the reason that I find it hard to think of appropriate instructional methods in teaching this particular subject.
In my first day of straight teaching, I have gone through the process of reflection. ‘Do my students learn from me? My first topic was teaching Problem Solving involving addition and subtraction. I introduced to them the GAPSA (Given, Asked, Process, Solution and Answer) as the basic, simplest and easiest way to solve a particular problem. I have used so many strategies but then, I never feel contented. Although when I gave an evaluation in the form of seat works or quizzes majority passed, I wanted everybody to learn.
Before, I don’t know who shall be responsible. Is it the learner or the teacher himself? In my case, according to Ma’am Malou, I should not bother those pupils who did not care about their learning. Perhaps, we are accountable to make our students acquire much knowledge but they must be responsible for their own learning. We teach and evaluate. Hence, they are the one who make their own grades. As teachers we are trap in a dilemma of teaching. How do we control or influence the child: whole child or the child as a student? Are we going to assume a social responsibility to the child or we are just in school to address their intellectual and academic needs?
Think of it. In a regular class with diverse students, there are always slow learners. And as a teacher, we pull out more effort for these students to learn the subject matter; we make our teaching strategies suitable to all levels of learners; and most of all, we provide them appropriate learning experience. However, there are times that these pupils never take part in the learning process. They do not perform a particular activity no matter how hard to guide them. Now, I realize that it is the reason why there are incident wherein a teacher blames the parent’s negligence. Do his/her parents spend a little more time to teach their child at home? Or they only depend the learning of their child to what his/her teacher taught at school?
Because of this, when I gave evaluation such as quiz or seat work, I remind them that I am not the one who make their grades, they must be responsible for their learning. Later on, when I have noticed that some of the slow learners in the class are trying to accomplish a particular, I feel a little strike of joy. Then, a deep breath followed by a word, ‘Thanks!’
The following day, I post a Top Ten Best Problem Solvers. This is strategy of my favorite Math teacher in high school. It provide motivation not just for achievers to perform well but also for other students to strive more efforts to be one of the young Mathematician. This strategy works out. The second day was spent on answering the workbook. As teacher, you have to do your effort to explain to them the more complex world of Mathematics, in the sense that it is appropriate to their levels of understanding.
Next topic I had discussed during my straight teaching was about multiplication as repeated addition. I always put pictures so that my pupils will understand the concept of multiplication as repeated addition. In my activity, I told the class that the first ten pupils to finish the activity will be receiving additional points (10 for the first, 9 for the second and so on). I adopt this strategy from my Math teacher in high school. It motivated us to perform better especially when there is a constraint of time.
They really do their best. However, I never know it may not be appropriate for those pupils especially fast learner who is not fond of limiting the time for learning. When she saw her classmates almost done with the activity and got additional points, she started to cry. Then, she did not take her recess. Even though I told her to take a break first, she kept on crying. She kept on staring at the Top Ten Best Problem Solvers. It seems that she thought, she would not be the first anymore next time I post the test results for this lesson. I stopped for a while. I was wrong. I thought it will work out. The next thing I know, I did not give an activity with such plus factors. I was so thankful since I learn from my students.
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