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Myths of Mathematics

Using tools is cheating

Fingers are there to help us! We have 10 fingers and a base system of 10. There must be some type of connection?

Still to this day, I use my fingers to keep track of which number I am on. As a dancer and choreographer, I am constantly counting to 8. Often when I am counting beats as to how many 8’s until I start dancing, I will keep a count of which set of 8 I am on by using my finger. It keeps everyone on the same track.

At work, I also use my fingers to keep track. When helping cash up the tills at night, we have to recount the money to ensure it is correct. I use my finger to keep track of how many one hundreds we have in £20.

During both primary school and secondary school, I never heard anyone say that you weren’t to use your fingers. My teachers didn’t emphasise the use of it but they didn’t stop anyone using their fingers if needed.

As a teacher, I will ensure that children are confident in using their fingers if it helps them develop their understanding of mathematics. I will show children effective ways to use their fingers to help count or keep track and then it will be their choice to continue using them or not.

The 9 times table finger rule

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu3JSnRaaV0

There is controversy about teaching this. Personally, I think it is very effective. Although, originally it doesn’t teach children the aspect of the 9 times table, it builds on their confidence especially children who struggle with mathematics. By building on their confidence and with time they will gain an understanding of the 9 times table.

Science Literacy Essay

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Scientific Literacy

When one is scientifically literate, they will realise and understand the scientific ideas and methods required to take part in everyday life. Throughout our lifetimes we regularly hear stories about many different issues around the world, such as global warming and new medicines and drugs that have been invented to apparently improve the quality of life. As a scientifically literate person, one must be able to answer things that they question by investigating the answer. These questions come from our inquisitiveness in everyday life.

Scientific literacy suggests that a person can recognise scientific concerns underlying local and national choices and express positions that are scientifically and technologically informed. One who is scientifically literate can display positions that are scientifically and technologically well-versed. They are also able to look at scientific statements and evaluate them by studying their source and procedures, and use this in such a way that they can then put forward arguments to reach a conclusion.

Being science literate means not believing the first thing you hear before you have surrounding evidence to the fact. In 2002, BBC news reported that German scientists had found out that blonde hair would become extinct within the next 200 years as it is a recessive trait. It stated that for “a child to have blonde hair, it must have the gene on both sides of the family in the grandparent’s generation” (BBC News, 2002)

The New York Times, found out later that year that no actual study had been done. Despite this revelation, the study continued to be cited in publications right up until 2006.

This sparked a panic and instantly everyone knew about this, though it was only one study, which turns out to not have even happened. Therefore, you should not trust any fact unless you find more than one reliable study to support the evidence presented in the fact.

I believe that it is important to teach children how scientific experiments can sometimes be “fixed” to derive a preferred outcome. This, is often to fool people into believing something that isn’t true. For example, on the 1st April 1957 the BBC aired a ‘Panorama’ programme which hoaxed thousands of viewers to believing that spaghetti was grown on trees in Switzerland which, anyone who is scientifically illiterate would testify isn’t scientifically possible. For children to develop the knowledge and understanding of scientific concepts so that they are able to challenge facts they believe aren’t correct then we, as teachers, must teach fair testing throughout the scientific curriculum. I believe that it’s important to enforce to children that they cannot just take the conclusion from their first experiment which they only carry out once. For reliable results they must repeat the experiment several times to ensure that their conclusions are correct. Thus, building their scientific literacy.

BBC NEWS (2002) Blondes ‘to die out in 200 years’ Available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2284783.stm (accessed 26/01/16)

BBC NEWS (1957) BBC Fools the Nation Available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/april/1/newsid_2819000/2819261.stm (Accessed: 8/02/16)

Animation

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Tim The Turtle

This is the video that three other students and I created during the animation workshop.

After the workshop, I went straight to work and showed everyone my video. They laughed but admitted that it was good. The following day, I went back home and visited my grandparents. My 10 year old cousin goes to their house on a Wednesday after school so I went and picked her up. Back at my gran’s house, she took off her jacket and instantly sat herself in front of the TV. I showed her the video, slightly unsure of her reaction.

“Wow, did you really do that?” She asked and I nodded. She was intrigued to find out how I did it. I explained it to her and then got my gran’s laptop. I downloaded Pivot for her and she sat for the next 2 hours engaged on the laptop. When she finished she was so proud of her animation and my gran now tells me that this is what she does each time she comes home from school.

Words associated with being a Professional

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Being professional is very important in a career like teaching. You are always being looked upon by others.

There are many words associated with being a professional and this is just a list of some of the ones I came up with:

experienced
respected
trustworthy
skilled
expert
leadership
collaborative
communication

Basic Academic Skills

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During primary school, I knew that I was stronger at Maths than I was at English. I was in top set Maths but in the second group for English. When I moved up to secondary school, the teachers just assumed that I was good at English as I didn’t struggle in any other subject. It wasn’t until we were streamed in third year that I realised how much I was struggling. With the help of an English tutor, I was able to pass Intermediate 2 and then go on to get a B at higher, however I did have to put a lot of hard work in.

During Advanced Higher History, I was constantly told that I had all the correct information and would get the marks I needed but that my English was “clumsy”, this statement has stuck in my head since.

Due to past experiences, I was slightly nervous that my English skills would hold me back at University but thanks to the Online Module and Study Skills book, I feel more confident. I took my time doing the reading and copied up the notes so I can refer back to them. It has also made me more careful when writing and I now remember to read over my work.

I hope by refreshing my memory and improving my grammar and punctuation skills that I will be at a standard suitable for university level writing.

Virtues of a Teacher

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Patience

Patience is a very good virtue for a teacher to have as they have to understand that not all children will manage to grasp something instantly. They are learning this for the first time and it needs to go through to their long term memory. Things that we find easy like the alphabet isn’t easy for them. They have just been thrown 26 letters and suddenly there is an order to them. Having patience allows you to take a deep breath and try again. You also have to have patience within the school with fellow teachers and parents. Just because you have asked for something doesn’t mean that they are going to do it straight away. Also not all parents understand the curriculum and what you are trying to teach their children. This means you have to have patience and let parents think about what you are doing and why.

Fairness

“I am strict, but fair” was my Primary 3 teacher’s favourite saying and it was true. Many people were scared of her but our class loved her. She was strict when she needed to be but was also fair in what she said. She didn’t make assumptions and was willing to listen to your side of the story. She was aware of us as individuals and treated us all fairly.

Respect

Teachers should be respected by children but, in return, teacher’s should respect children. They should be treated as individuals and listened too. If you do not respect the children then they are less likely to respect you back. Children will come into the classroom with completely different views and they should all be respected.

Honesty

Being honest helps you to set a good example to children. It helps a trust to develop between the children and the teacher as they feel that they value them by telling them the truth. It helps them feel secure and comfortable with the teacher

Kindness

It is important for teachers to be kind as they act as a role model for children. By being kind, it relaxes the atmosphere and creates a more relaxed environment for the children to learn in.