It's back to school for me
I know many haven't even started back to school, but we start back the second week of August. (Since August is normally very hot, it's not bad to actually spend it inside and be done in May, when it's normally very nice!)
I teach high school math classes for homeschool teens. We only meet once a week, and I need to teach the main points of their math lessons for the week during my 2-hour session with them. It's quite a bit of material to cover, but with some availability on my part during the week, it works.
I've done it since 2004 and absolutely love the opportunity to encourage these teens in their education. I love being able to help a homeschool mom continue to homeschool, even if she doesn't feel she can teach mathematics.
But I have found what I enjoy the very most is having a teen walk into my class and I can either tell by their body language or see by their response to the survey I have them each fill out that they truly dislike math. That excites me. Here is another student that I can help to see that YES, they can understand math. YES, they can succeed.
We never like what we don't understand. We will always dislike what seems confusing and just plain difficult.
I remember a student who walked into class the first day and wouldn't even look at me or at the board the entire class. The next week he grunted a response when I greeted him by name. The next week he actually smiled when he came into the classroom. At the end of the year he sent me a note, thanking me for teaching and letting me know that he was leaving my class actually enjoying math.
Yes!!
And so, as I sat down to read the surveys, I read multiple ones that indicated they liked nothing about math, or that math was their weakest subject, or that it just plain scared them. Yes! What an opportunity I've been given!!
Thank you, Lord for the opportunity to help these teens grow to see mathematics, not as something that is not understandable, not enjoyable, but is something that CAN be understood and maybe even enjoyed.
For all those students that told me how little they understand or enjoy math, I'm beginning my year with a desire to help each of you grow in your understanding of and maybe even love for math. Challenge accepted. I don't know about you, but I'm glad "we're" back to school.
I teach high school math classes for homeschool teens. We only meet once a week, and I need to teach the main points of their math lessons for the week during my 2-hour session with them. It's quite a bit of material to cover, but with some availability on my part during the week, it works.
I've done it since 2004 and absolutely love the opportunity to encourage these teens in their education. I love being able to help a homeschool mom continue to homeschool, even if she doesn't feel she can teach mathematics.
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| This response had me laughing out loud |
We never like what we don't understand. We will always dislike what seems confusing and just plain difficult.
I remember a student who walked into class the first day and wouldn't even look at me or at the board the entire class. The next week he grunted a response when I greeted him by name. The next week he actually smiled when he came into the classroom. At the end of the year he sent me a note, thanking me for teaching and letting me know that he was leaving my class actually enjoying math.
Yes!!
And so, as I sat down to read the surveys, I read multiple ones that indicated they liked nothing about math, or that math was their weakest subject, or that it just plain scared them. Yes! What an opportunity I've been given!!
Thank you, Lord for the opportunity to help these teens grow to see mathematics, not as something that is not understandable, not enjoyable, but is something that CAN be understood and maybe even enjoyed.
For all those students that told me how little they understand or enjoy math, I'm beginning my year with a desire to help each of you grow in your understanding of and maybe even love for math. Challenge accepted. I don't know about you, but I'm glad "we're" back to school.
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