A friend emailed today describing her current situation at school — student behavior issues, students who are in danger of being suspended, students who have so much going on in their lives that math is one of the last things they think about — what’s a teacher to do?
Her note reminds me that teaching math (or other subjects) sometimes comes in second to life. I remember that it’s such a fine line we walk. Does it help the situation to ignore it to some degree and create a “math environment” haven? Or, do we have to take care of some of the social issues before we can even imagine teaching math? It’s such a hard call.
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I agree it is a fine line between focusing on the math or the social. However, the saying that comes to mind is “Kids do not care how much you know until they know how much you care”. I think it is important to build those relationships in the beginning so you can hopefully find enough time between the problems so many kids face to actually get to the math we want them to learn.
I think it is also important to make it a priority to make the math relevant to them. The more they see WHY they need to learn the math the more they will buy into it..no matter what life throws at them.
I was just discussing this with a coworker last week. I have 117 students dispersed throughout 5 different classes this year.(high school), I feel so overwhelmed with the material, and paperwork…there isn’t time to really get to know a kid.I don’t have time in a 41 minute period to even say hello to them individually! I started portfolios and it’s a way I can actually be personable to all of my students! I can jot them a note, there is space for them to jot me a note, etc… As I hear politicians, and professionals like Bill Gates stating giving better teachers larger classes could make a big impact on achievement, I think they obviously have no clue the psychology involved with the average teen,(let alone those facing serious deficiencies/issues).
Having a relationship with students is half the battle! I truly believe as Ashely, if they know you sincerely believe in them, they start to believe in themselves. I am amazed by the mis-perception the politicians and general public seem to have about students. It used to be when I started teaching I had 2-3 students in a class who had big issues/circumstances to overcome. Now it feels like I have 2-3 students in a class who don’t have big issues/ circumstances to overcome.
I try to remind myself to treat my students as the children they are, with the respect of the young adults they will become, and give them a place where it’s ok not to be perfect….a place where all of their thinking is valued and given the attention it deserves. Giving 117 students the attention they deserve is quite the challenge!