As a math educator at the high school and middle school levels, I lived for the moments when students’ furrowed brows ever-so-slightly began to unfold as they began to understand a difficult concept. It was in these moments that I felt the greatest sense of accomplishment as an educator, and I know that many of my colleagues in the education field share this same feeling.
Nothing is more rewarding than witnessing a student’s engagement and gradual comprehension of a difficult concept and then seeing that understanding translate into practical application during class exercises. It’s the reward that keeps us returning to the classroom each day to teach and inspire students to unlock the mysteries of mathematics.
Despite the challenges that are part of teaching mathematics, from recalcitrant students to the difficulty of anticipating how a concept will be understood by a particular class, I draw a great deal of energy and enthusiasm from the prospect of teaching math each day. I’ve found that my enthusiasm is often contagious and that it helps my students see the relevance of mathematics to their world.
Many students enter the math classroom with fear and apprehension, and it can take a lot of work to break down the barriers that they have built up over the years. My approach has always been to first demonstrate how mathematics is part of their everyday life – from balancing a checkbook to understanding the effects of taxes – and then to slowly build up to more complex concepts.
I also strive to make the classroom an enjoyable learning environment. I often integrate humor into my lectures, allowing students a chance to laugh and enjoy the process of learning. I ask questions during class to help students understand the material and to provide an opportunity to discuss problems in a group setting.
The most exciting part of teaching mathematics is when a student’s face begins to light up with understanding. Each time I witness this happening, I feel a great sense of joy, knowing that I have just made a difference in that student’s life. The joy of making a difference in a student’s life is truly one of the greatest rewards of being a teacher, and it is something that I will always strive to achieve.
