My favourite Math teacher in high school was my pre-calc 11 / calculus teacher. I remember how much she loved Math and how she was well-trained to teach us. She was excited about Math and I think I absorbed that excitement and was able to be interested in the subject. She also gave us lots of opportunities to practice the material and reduced her lecturing time. The last thing that stood out to me as I reflect is that she took time every week to engage in conversations with us about life - she had a question jar and we would talk about all kinds of life questions. I knew she was invested in our development as people as well as math learners.
My least favourite Math teacher was my grade 9 Math teacher. He was not trained in teaching Math and he mostly relied on worksheets. I remember feeling more confused when he lectured and finding mistakes in his work. My takeaway is that students can easily decipher if a teacher is knowledgeable and passionate about the subject they are teaching. I want my students to trust my teaching and also know that I am invested in them.
How great to have a question jar and to take time to talk with students about life! I think we often get so caught up with teaching our subject(s) that we forget the importance of discussing the big life questions that are so much part of helping kids move into adulthood. That passion for math is also incredibly important -- as kids pick up on a teacher's enthusiasm and will be willing to try new things because their teacher shows such interest!
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