Four Myths that Limit Your Potential (or your student's) as a
1. Myth #1: Only people with natural ability can learn to
Reflection: I spent most of my life believing this. Without question, some people have mathematical gifts, just as others are skilled in athletics or the arts. But given the right environment, the rest of us can prosper mathematically. We would never tell someone that only people with natural ability can learn to read or walk or drive a car well.
2. Myth #2: People who are good in
Reflection: English major here. Long-time lover of children's literature. Now hugely benefitting from visual math models that I never learned as a child. Give me a good piece of math-related children's literature and scary math topics will turn on a dime.
3. Myth #3: Achieving
Reflection: Errors are often our best teachers. Ask Edison.
4. Myth #4: Learning to
Reflection: This myth causes havoc, leading us to believe, among other things, that
When I watch finger multiplication, for instance, I'm impressed from a "boy, do you ever have a great party trick!" viewpoint. I am NOT impressed mathematically. But if I ask you what 6 x 7 is...and you explain several ways to calculate the answer...now THAT is impressive!
Question to Ponder: Which math myths most limit your potential?
Great list! The one myth I'd like to add is "You have to be good with numbers to understand and enjoy math".
ReplyDeleteGood addition! :)
Delete