1 + 1 = 3, right?

The first session of our math class was something that was quite interesting and out-of-the-box. Our teacher requested for us to gather around a table and watch a demonstration of a card trick. Amazed and bewildered by the card trick, the entire class began to ask questions on how it was done.

We were then asked to separate into groups and try to figure out how the trick was done using our prior math knowledge. To be honest, the only word that popped into my head was “probability.” After trying the trick a few times, I got frustrated and gave up without thinking carefully of what my teacher said during the trick.

Similar to last year’s math class, the number one reason as to why neither of us could figure out the trick was because we were over-thinking everything. It ended up not being quite related to math itself but listening to instructions very carefully and then thinking about how one can get the same result. The card deck ended up actually being rigged - it challenged us to think about how one can solve a problem.

---

The web modules that were assigned this week gave us, teacher candidates, to view math in a different perspective. We did not learn about how one can teach math, but, instead, how we can view math ourselves in order to teach it confidently and allow one’s students to feel confident.

The first module involved a few people (including students) briefly discussing their views on math. I found it to be relatable, but, at the same time, I found it to be quite sad since they appeared to feel incompetent when it came to the subject.

Just about every single person in the video feels something extremely negative about the subject. They say that they don’t like numbers, it makes them feel stupid, or, simply, they just hate it. I feel as though this mindset needs to be changed and transformed into something much more positive. Math should be seen as something that is challenging yet exciting at the same time. I remember learning math in elementary school - it was challenging and only challenging. After learning some math in last year’s class in such unique ways, I found it to be entertaining and easy to learn.

In addition to this negativity, it appears that media has deeply perpetuated the idea that math is “lame”, “nerdy”, or “boring.” As a teacher, we need to avoid this negative mindset of the subject and demonstrate to students that the subject can be something amazing.

One of the last videos of the math modules was one that discussed the myths about math. I found this video to be the most interesting and relatable video thus far. It talks about (surprise) myths about learning math and debunks them. Some famous myths include:

• Some people are just born to excel in math
• Math cannot be learned at a later age. It must be taught at a young age

I remember being younger and truly believing that people are born to excel in the mathematics and sciences while others are born to excel in the arts. With this mindset, I found myself struggling with math and slowly giving up on it.

This is something that teachers need to remove from the classroom and their minds. We must realize that ANYONE can learn math. However, it is our job to do so and do it in a way that will guarantee student success.