Mathematics
Mathematical Mindset
You have probably heard people say they are just bad at math, or perhaps you yourself feel like you are not “a math person.” Not so, says Stanford mathematics education professor Jo Boaler, who shares the brain research showing that with the right teaching and messages, we can all be good at math.
Not only that, our brains operate differently when we believe in ourselves. Boaler gives hope to the mathematically fearful or challenged, shows a pathway to success, and brings into question the very basics of how our teachers approach what should be a rewarding experience for all children and adults. (taken from TEDx Talks, May 22, 2016) Jo has teamed up with Carol Dweck to write Mathematical Mindset. This TEDxStanford talk "How you can be good at math, and other surprising facts about learning" ,
We will be sharing resources and tips for parents to not only assist their children but to also build a positive math community at Scoresby Secondary College. This month's newsletter will focus on Growth Mindset. Many of us may have had math moments where we felt we were not "good" at math. Perhaps you had a teacher or parent say something to you that "stuck" and caused you to believe that you were not a "math person". Inside this newsletter you can access links to articles that explain Growth Mindset. But most importantly, resources for families to build a Growth Mindset.
Developing a Growth Mindset – 5 tips for parents
Scoresby Secondary College Growth Mindset in Mathematics:
In Maths we do pre-tests for every unit so the teachers and ourselves know our prior knowledge in each topic. We have learning booklets that we fill in with our results, so we are able to see where we are at in our learning. In each topic of Maths, we set goals to help improve our understanding.
Our teachers encourage us to challenge ourselves. At the end of each topic, we have our post-tests and we reflect on our data and how much we have improved from the pre-test score compared to the post-test score. Throughout the topic, teachers are given constructive feedback to grow our understanding.
Personally, I enjoy filling in the booklet as I like to see how much I have improved from my previous tests. Students also get awarded Growth certificates for achieving outstanding learning growth.
Written by Sofia Faddoul – Year 7
Ms Michelle de Boer
Mathematics Leader