When asked to rate ourselves on a scale of 1-10 for enjoyment and confidence of maths I rated 8 and 4 respectively. Maths is a subject that I enjoyed at school but the thought of teaching maths is frightening. It’s been while – almost 2 years since I’ve studied maths
and prior to that 5 years since school – so I am nervous children may know more than I do!
In Tara’s input we discussed maths myths and anxieties:
- It’s not needed for everyday life
- You are better at maths or language and not both
- My mum wasn’t good at maths so I won’t be either
- Some people just can’t do maths
Genuinely, I’d never heard of maths anxiety until I started University but it is something I need to understand. Maths is not something I was ever frightened of. That’s not to say I’m an expert but I did and still do enjoy using numbers. I feel I do have a positive attitude to maths and but must admit I did/do agree one of the myths that you are stronger in either maths or language as I felt exactly that, that maths was my stronger subject compared to language. (Something I need to get out of the habit of thinking).
It is paramount that teachers show a positive attitude and confidence to maths. As soon as you show weakness with any subject but particularly in maths you give reason for children to doubt their own abilities. Mistakes can be made but not being 
embarrassed and using them as learning opportunities is important as a teacher to show children it’s ok. Equally saying something like “I wasn’t very good at maths” or “I was better at language” sets doubt and leads to a self-fulfilling prophecy.
My thoughts were that I may have confidence in my own ability but not teaching maths and as long as I show enthusiasm then I’ll be ok. However, Tara then showed us a quote:
“Teaching enthusiasm cannot be maintained where a teacher is unsure of the material… consequences of unsound subject knowledge is hesitancy in teaching, lack of direction to the lesson and lack of clarity in explanation”. Banks and Mayes, 2001, p25.
This then scared me. I have only engaged with the Online Literacy Assessment a few times (okay only once) and my score was embarrassingly low. I really need to get my knowledge up to scratch and there is little time left until placement. We are not required to teach hard mathematics but unless there is understanding (apparently) then doubt will be cast over my teaching of the subject. Better get to it…
I liked this blog as it challenges the concept that it’s ok to claim to be poor at maths or that it is acceptable to claim to be poor at maths and then do nothing about it. I am not sure that people are either good at maths or language and cannot be good at both. Lewis Carroll excelled in language and maths.