I wanted to lie down and cry. When I got home from the student/teacher/parent conference in fifth grade my mind was in shambles. After I had done everything possible to pass math, my fifth grade teacher was actually telling my Parents about my alleged poor effort. Poor effort? Didn't I do every homework assignment? Didn't I study every night and miss my favorite television show "Full house"? From an early age, I had been taught that grades are important. Good grades would lead to a college education and bad grades would lead to being a middle class nothing like my parents were.
Yet it wasn't the math grade that really bothered me so much, but the fact that I was giving my all which clearly wasn't enough. The main thing I thought was that if I give 120% and still not passing, how was I supposed to get through another eight years of math.
Moodle Guide for Teachers
Phila. Teachers on Capitol Steps, Wash., D.C., 5/1...
Mathematics..I felt much anger! Now that I have begun to analyze my learning style and experiences. I realize that anger masks feelings of hurt and fear. The college factor was always on my mind. How would I ever be accepted to college? My learning issues are still always there. I got through years of math in Elementary, Junior high, and High school with lots of help. Although some of the fears have subsided, I still have a lasting memory of that fifth grade experience. If teachers only realized the power of their words, if only they would think about the impact of their statements before they spoke.
Saarbrücken, HTW, Mathematics Workshop
Mathematics Pond
Mathematics homework