Effective Teaching
"Outstanding teaching requires teachers to have a deep understanding of the subject matter and its structure, as well as an equally thorough understanding of the kinds of teaching activities that help students understand the subject matter in order to be capable of asking probing questions." (188)
Effective teaching is teaching for understanding. Going back to previous chapters where Experts were not considered to be the "best" teachers explains just that. It's one thing to possess the traits of an expert and to know the subject matter in depth, it's another to know the types of teaching strategies that it takes to transfer that knowledge to students. This probably is the most intensive task that teachers may endure.
On a personal note, the chapter discuss some idea's that explain the strategies of Math teachers. "Teachers' goals for instruction are, to a large extent, a reflection of what they think is important in Mathematics and how they think students best learn it." (pg164) As a Math teacher myself, I agree with what is implied. I emphasize on the points that I believe my students should know. I teach, re-teach, and teach again until these concepts are understood. With so much information and so little time, I skip sections that may not be so important. I teach through reality and build on what they know or think they know. I connect lessons with my past experiences as a consumer or pre-adult to get the point across. Then, I build on what they know and help them see the link between both. This is one of my strategies because I believe they learn best through example. Is it the best? For me, considering all factors: student's learning abilities, math knowledge, and the motivation of my students - this seems to be the most successful.
posted by M-ages at 3:39 PM
2 Comments:
I forget where I read this quote: the American curriculum is a mile wide and inch deep. We are always being forced to cover as many topics as we can in so little time that our students end up being Jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none. It IS important that we teach, reteach, and teach again. The only person that I know who gets everything in one teaching is James Bond when Q shows him how to use his gadgets while trying not to get killed at the same time. :)
5:54 AM
You know, I think all teachers are that way, not only math teachers. I do the same thing. I teach and stress what I believe is important, but the non-important boring stuff gets covered only just enough to say I covered it.
I think that is completely normal for all of us, even those who aren't teachers. We focus on what is important and what we like.
2:24 PM
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