Learning Goals

My primary learning goal is to develop a sense of excitement and enthusiasm with regards to the subject of mathematics and try to lessen and/or eliminate the negative feelings that I currently have associated with this topic. For this evolution to occur, I think I need to begin by findings ways to motivate and encourage myself to become a logical thinker and learner. Though this is not my area of expertise, it will be important for me to constantly establish positives to this learning approach and consider the multitude of ways that this learning style will be helpful to me in the future. In order to change my thinking, I need to change my approach. I hope to discover some of these new approaches and strategies that I can utilize when performing mathematics and incorporate those strategies into the lesson plan that I will be teaching to my first grade students within my field placement. For example, when we were asked in class to comprise a list of the ways in which the number 16 can be reached, I was astounded at the variety of approaches and strategies that could be used in completing this problem. Not only were numbers incorporated, but graphs, charts, and drawings as well. These are the types of strategies that would have made my childhood experiences with mathematics more positive. I hope to continue to learn new approaches to mathematical equations and, as a result, be able to transform my attitude towards math in the process.