In 1992, Teen Barbie was heard saying, "Math Class is tough," which was often misquoted as, "Math is hard." Math Class can be tough and math can be hard, but it doe not have to be. Even though math always has one right answer, there are many different paths to get there. Just as we find our own groove to the music, we all must find our own math groove. As a teacher, I am their DJ as well as their instructor helping them to determine which genre of music speaks to them as well as introducing them to new material.
My goal is for my students to be autonomous and be able to solve complex problems without prompting from me. My students need to feel safe and encouraged not only to succeed but also to feel safe to fail. We sometimes learn the most from our failures, and my students must understand that at times, we all make mistakes, but we must learn from them and keep striving for success. Success will come to each student in his or her own time and in his or her own way. I am just a catalyst to help make it happen.