Interview with the Student
So I interviewed a student from high school, "J." We spend some time together and I taped his answers. I transcribed the interview.
How would you answer the question "why learn math?"
To make you think. There are some jobs that do not really need math, but math just really makes you think. It makes you see a problem in many different ways. They train you to not be closed minded.
How do you best learn math?
Practice. Not just reading. You have to do it.
Do you enjoy learning math? Do you find it interesting? Do you think it is being taught well?
I can't say I always enjoy learning math, I think it is taught pretty well. Math is a hard subject. I don't enjoy it always. It has nothing to do with the way it is being taught that I don't like it; it is a pretty hard subject. Sometimes I don't like it. Sometimes I find it interesting. Sometimes I find it pretty boring.
Which assessment methods are you best at?
I would say on presentations. I just don't have stage freight. I don't really have a problem talking to people.
How would you define mathematics?
Numbers. Lots of numbers. I don't know. . . adding, subtracting, multiplying.
Interview with the teacher:
How much homework do you assign and why?
Just enough to feel over whelmed but they don't break down. Keep them out of my hair during class time, keep them occupied.
How do you deal with difficult students
Use of humor, have the students see you as a person.
How would you improve the teacher education program?
UBC program, shortened to 6 month practicum, focus on practical. No wishy washy theoretical crap, total lack of practicality. Social Justice, Special Ed good.
Boys more willing to experiment and try different things, girls require a lot more structure, less likely to take risks. However they put in more effort.
more hands on work not the answer, math work not being done, not enough theory, more crunching numbers. Overly calculator dependent.
Conversation with a math teacher
Q1: How much homework, do you assign, if any, and how often? Why?
In the lower grades (9 and 8) homework is primarily work not completed in class.
For grades 10 about half and hour per class and grades 11 and 12 about 45 min to 1 hour per class.
Q2: How do you get difficult students or those who just don't show any interest and do not participate
involved?
I try to engage them by doing a wide variety of activities and showing how it applies in their lives. I am finding
the new curriculum (grade 8 last year, grade 9 next year) to be excellent in this regard. The new textbooks are
amazing. When I was a new teacher I thought if I just explained things well enough and loved the students, they
would all succeed. I've learned that the students must bring their own energy to the class in order for them to be
successful.
Q3: What kind of training did you go through before started teaching? Do you feel
it was adequate?
I am an engineer by training and worked in the field for over 15 years. I find that this experience helps
tremendously specifically in making the lessons more engaging. I have a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering. To
qualify as a teacher, I took the 11 month program at SFU.
Q4: Do you see a different between how and the way boys and girls learn math?
As a profession, teacher are working at incorporating boy/girl learning patterns. More specifically, we are trying
to make lessons more boyfriendly
by allowing a lot of partner work and movement in the classroom.
Q5: What recommendations would you have for mathematics education reform?
The only recommendation that comes to mind may surprise you we
need to make it easier to fire ineffective
teachers. The number one factor for a child's success is the teacher. We need to stop blaming outside factors and
critically look at ourselves in terms of delivering the best lessons in an environment that allows individual students to embrace their own style of learning and thrive.
Conversation with two math students
Q1: How would you define "mathematics"?
Both Isabelle and Gabrielle: Adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing, fractions.
Q2. If you were the teacher, how would you improve your math class?
Gabrielle:
1. take 5 minute break in between the classs. Her classes are 75 minutes.
2. have students get involved by asking them how to do a step/do the problem before explaining the process.
Q3. How do you best learn math?
Gabrielle: having a quiz after learning a new process.
Q4. How would you answer the question "why learn math?"
Gabrielle: budget, learn about money, taxes, buying things.
Isabelle: we don't need to learn half the stuff we do. We don't need to learn geometry.
Q5. Which assessment methods are you best at (if applicapable): quizzes, inclass assignments, home work, open
book exams, final exams, provincial exams, group projects/activities, inclass assignments, research projects,
openbook exams
Both Isabelle and Gabrielle do best with inclass assignments.
Isabelle says because she is more focused inclass.
Gabrielle home work and inclass assignments are about even re successful learning/marks.
Q6. Do you enjoy learning math? Pls explain your answer.
Gabrielle depends on teacher if the teacher explains and proceeds to new problems at the students' pace and
gives students lots of examples so we understand.
Isabelle no. I don't know why.
Q7. Do you find MATH interesting? Pls explain your answer.
Gabrielle yes, because a specific rule will apply to all numbers. For eg, two negatives multiplied are always a
positive. But it's not interesting like social studies, where you learn something new all the time.
Isabelle it's fun when it's easy. Otherwise it's not interesting.
Q8. Do you think it is being taught well? (comment on both the course materials and the teacher)
Gabrielle the course materials are good this year. My teacher this year is good because he gives us a break to
relax our mind after 35 minutes, he takes time to make sure that he isn't going too fast and he checks to make
sure we are following his steps, he gives a lot of examples, and he tests us as we go along to make sure that we
understand. He also makes sure we are prepared for the chapter tests/quizzes by giving us assignments on the
new material before the quizz.
Isabelle No because we spend too much time marking our homework and tests. We spend about 1/3 of the class
marking each other's work. The class is boring. The teacher teaches straight out of the text and she just tells us to
do the work. If we need help we have to ask.
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