Week 1

In my last few visits to YHS, I have been just making an effort to get to know the students. In the Algebra class, this has been fairly easy. Everyday Mrs. Porter spends some time giving leading the class through a few example problems. The class then is begins to work on their own problems individually. Mrs. Porter, the teaching assistant and I walk around the classroom and help students. This has been a very good way for me to get to know the students. In our brief conversations about math, they will generally ask me something not related to the class. This constant interaction has also helped me to learn their names.

Some of the students in the class struggle with the mathematics fundamentals like basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. I am getting a much clearer picture of how important a solid math foundation is in allowing students to be successful in future math courses. Also, it seems like some of the students who are disruptive are the students who are able to understand and complete the work. It is unfortunate that there is such a significant variation in the level of understanding in the class. The teacher can’t go ahead to appease the students who understand the material without jeopardizing the other students ability to learn. The advanced students then get bored and begin to be disruptive. I have also observed that the students are in a rush to finish problems and don’t exhibit much patience. The students are eager to immediately get to the answer, but not nearly as eager to meticulously go step by step to solve the problem.

In Mr. Sowder’s class, I have been attending and participating in the class activities. This week has been primarily lectures, which has made it difficult for me to interact with the students. Hopefully, next week, I have be able to increase my interactions with the students.