A Teacher's Ruminations

This year, more than any other year, I've noticed that many of my students don't like math. Not just a little bit, but a lot. In part, it's a question of feeling confident about what they know and, in part, it's because I am asking them to not only give an answer, but also to justify their answer or their method. Too many of them simply want to follow the algorithm and be done with it. It doesn't matter if they can explain why this method works or not. They got the answer and it's correct. Who cares why it works.  Other students have an ingrained sense that they are not good at math. Their parents were not good at math and that's why they struggle, too. Or so goes their logic.  And, of course, in 5th grade we get into more thorny math topics that will follow kids through middle school and beyond. In a word, I think that when some kids hear me say, "It's time for math," they literally shut down their brains and their emotional filters go...