Math Group Presentation Strategies To Build Confidence In Learning Mathematics
What is confidence? Confidence is to know one’s strengths and limitations. What do I mean by that? What do I need to overcome? How I am going to overcome the challenges I continue to face ?
What do I need to overcome? Probably anxiety or fear of math. Then where it comes from? It comes in part from myths and misconceptions. For example, you’re born with mathematics gene. What’s wrong with this statement for the most part?
What do I mean by that? Build on what I already know in order to fill any lagging gap I had in certain areas. Confidence is useless without the skills to back it up. Skills can assist me in achieving perfection or near perfection. What are steps in helping students build confidence in math or any subject?
Steps 1.Patience 2.Understand where in terms of… 3.Know my content area 4.I need to display competence, confidence, and leadership in the classroom.
How am I going to overcome the challenges I continue to face? Practice and hands-on exercises using manipulatives. Why is that? Because “Math anxiety is not just a simple nervous reaction, nor it is a harmless myth: it is a debilitating affliction that restricts math performance among both children and adults worldwide” (Martinez & Martinez, 1998 p. 9).
Reflective Debate According to Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (2003), “U.S. schools should not be too quick to assume that happiness is what matters in the classroom” (as cited in Mathews, 2006 p. 1). What do you think of this quote?