Natural Mathematicians

Our mathematic methods course this quarter has opened my eyes to a number of very important ideas in the teaching and learning of mathematics. As teachers, knowing and understanding how children have many, very important and smart mathematical ideas and that they are very capable mathematical thinkers is essential to our ability to position our students competently. It is also very important that we understand how children follow a trajectory in their growth as mathematicians. Understanding this allows us as teachers to support our student’s individual growth and help them each student reach that next level of mathematical thinking. It’s also so important to create a classroom environment in which students feel that they have smart, important, mathematical ideas.