Annotated Bibliography
The articles and videos that have been listed below have played a key role in the development of my Inquiry Project. Please continue to visit this page for updates as I refine my research.
British Columbia Ministry of Education. (2015). Building student success BC’s new curriculum. Retrieved from https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/curriculum
I have referred to the New B.C. Curriculum in a couple of my inquiry entries as this provides a platform for me to see the link between innovative ways of teaching mathematics and the curriculum that needs to be covered. This document is also important as it allows me to integrate differentiated learning and employ a cross-curricular approach to my teaching to ensure that my lessons are meaningful to my students.
Finlayson, M. (2014). Addressing math anxiety in the classroom. The Author(s), 17(1), 99-115. doi:10.1177/1365480214521457
This article is significant to my project because it examines the concept of anxiety in relation to math from the perspectives of pre-service teachers. Finlayson analyzes the implications of math anxiety on students, like “lack of self confidence,” and the various methods that can be employed to help students overcome their anxiety, such as encouraging students to take risks by creating an “interactive learning environment” (p. 99 & 110). According to the author, it is important for educators to know about different strategies that they can utilize in their classrooms so that they can help students to understand their anxiety and teach them strategies to eliminate or decrease their level of frustration with this topic.
Rutherford, K. (2015). Why play math games? Retrieved from http://www.nctm.org/publications/teaching-children-mathematics/blog/why-play-math-games_/
This article is relevant to my inquiry project as it examines that significance of math games in the classroom. Incorporating games in math lessons enables teachers to create an engaging learning environment where concepts that were taught in class is being reinforced while simultaneously ensuring that students enjoy math as they participate in experiential learning and develop higher level thinking.
TEDx Talks. (2011). TEDxManhattanBeach – John Bennett – why math instruction is unnecessary. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyowJZxrtbg&list=PLU9y4zDnK7k_ARVd9eCWRwOxIjTbP5HQw&index=2
This video is important to my project because it examines the symptoms of math anxiety. Bennett also explores the reasons for learning math to function in our everyday lives and the idea of inductive and deductive reasoning. The speaker examines the ways that teachers can help develop analytical and critical thinking skills in students so that they can be more effective in following their life’s passion. Ultimately, this is what I want for my students.
TEDx Talks. (2012). A passion for math: Elly Schofield at TEDxClaremontColleges. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBPKoTr-XnQ&index=18&list=PLU9y4zDnK7k_ARVd9eCWRwOxIjTbP5HQw
Elly Schofield is upset about the way that math was taught to her when she was in grade school. She was told that she was good at math because she was quick at memorizing and computing mathematical equations. However, as she grew up and had to apply her knowledge to solve problems, she struggled with it because she had to start understanding what the questions were asking of her. She believes that students need to learn problem solving skills through what she coins as “productive failure,” whereby students are given credit for working through problems instead of merely finding the correct answers.
TEDx Talks. (2013). Changing perspectives on math: Kelly Skehill at TEDxWestVancouverED. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wht9LeBj07E&list=PLU9y4zDnK7k_ARVd9eCWRwOxIjTbP5HQw&index=1
I am choosing to use this video as Skehill is a teacher who understands that many students believe that they are incapable of doing math. Like me, she believes that this subject is extremely important for students to learn. Since we both want our students not to realize that we are not wasting their time, we need to change the way we teach to prepare them to use this subject in their current lives as well as in their future. Skehill discusses implementing experiential pedagogy in math, like incorporating lessons that are student-centered, so that students are more engaged in their learning.
TEDx Talks. (2014). TEDx IUM – Michelle Sisto – subtract anxiety from your math experience. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_njq16WDH9E
In this Ted Talk, Michelle Sisto analyzes the concept of math anxiety. She delves into the implications of this issue on students’ lives and the ways that it builds over time. She suggests that it is imperative for teachers to learn about math anxiety to better help their students overcome it because in time, it leads to avoidance in math, which impacts their chances of success in life as math is such a fundamental part of our everyday lives.
clairerushton
March 16, 2016 — 3:56 pm
The topics you have chosen to write about this term for EDUC 451 (pertaining to your inquiry topic) are interesting, relevant overall and most of all important for your growth as a teacher.
As you enter the practicum work with these words from your philosophy “Ultimately, my goal is to create a student-centered classroom that is nurturing, experiential and deeply rooted in the principles of Social and Emotional Learning.” If you follow this approach then some of the anxiety that you see should diminish – creating safety is important in all subject areas and it begins with the classroom climate the teacher establishes.
You have fully met the requirements for the course (EDUC 451) and shown a commitment to hard work, learning and understanding the on-going nature of inquiry.