Mathematics is generally defined as ‘the science of numbers and the operations
performed among them. It deals with both alphabets along with numbers and involves addition,
subtraction, multiplication, division, comparison, and many more.’ Quite obviously, it’s a whole
lot of things to learn! However, despite it being a loam, undeniably, many students do not have a
special fondness for this subject matter: a huge challenge to overcome for Mathematics-teachers
like me.
In the stretch of time being in the service, I have encountered innumerable students
already who carry along with them the ideology that Mathematics is a tough subject to study.
Hence, hindering them to see the beauty of it in its entirety. In full retrospect, I suppose this is
one among the humongous reasons why a great number of learners feel incapable of having a full
grasp of its concepts and contents.
Well, straight from the shoulder, I once shared the same position with these neophytes
when I was younger. Isn’t it ironic that this person who once hated ‘Mathematics’ has turned out
to be one among its ambassadors now? At this moment, you may be asking yourself questions
like ‘why?’, ‘how come?’, ‘what happened?’ and far more. I’d frantically answer you with one
simple truth: A Math teacher of mine broke the stigma. Every single day, he’d come to our class
equipped with the knowledge, skills, passion, and most especially with the will to not just teach
students but transform them whose view on Mathematics is negative and limited. I for one, I’ve
had a change of heart because of him. That being so, I am now a full-pledged Mathematics
educator.
In fine, now that my time has come to fill some big shoes as a Math teacher, with each
passing day I’m getting the opportunity to face my students, it has constantly been my fervent
desire to make my subject matter at hand intelligible, for I know, a Math teacher like me could
only do either of these two: strengthen the stigma or break it off; and in my case, the latter shall
always prevail.
By: Cenneleen Viviem L. Ramos | Teacher I | Bataan National High School
