It is not new to everyone, that Math has long been a scary, nerve-racking, and even for some, a terrifying subject in school. Supervisors, head teachers and teachers have had enormous ways of trying to lessen, if not to eradicate this mentality that learners have acquired for the subject. Not only that it is hard for most students, but when they ask their teachers why do they need to study it, they were not totally replied with a big answer but instead, they hear something like “you will need this when you go to college or when you already have a job.”
According to studies, only 26% of the school population had fair perception of Mathematics. Needless to say, they find it really difficult to learn.This makes it more difficult for a Math teacher. Aside from the numerous reports, paper works and preparations that a teacher has to do everyday, Math teachers are required to have strong content preparations that would emphasize that K-12 teachers haveincreased mathematical breadth and improved strategies and approaches.
With the full implementation of the K – 12 in the Philippines, the teachers had a suddenadjustment to the new curriculum. However, the learning experiences of college students taking up education have not totally met these goals. Preservice programs for teachers are very crowded and allow little time for study of mathematics.
Will the experiences and knowledge of Math content be learned through their field study courses or with their cooperating teachers and supervisors, or from other mathematics training courses? Can studying the practice of mathematics teaching lead to deeper knowledge of mathematics? Can they receive the credit of a graduate? In what ways do teachers need to “own” knowledge before teaching?
These are some difficult questions that concerns whether future teachers should learn mathematics in their education school or institutions. Subject matter matters. Deciding what subject matter, for whom, and in what depth, is a substantial challenge for mathematicians and mathematics educators.
By: Mrs. Elaine V. Cuadra | Teacher I | Bataan National High School | Balanga City, Bataan
