I started this blog with the original goal of writing something inspiring 2 or 3 times a week. I then realized that would be a lot of prose writing, so maybe once a week would be a better goal. And then, life happened. Family came into town, my older daughter had a day off to play at a museum with me and her daughter, and I had AC issues. Add to that a backload of laundry to do, bugs to kill, and a yard to take care of, blogging took a back seat.
In the process of NOT blogging, I did determine I needed to be creative. So I branched out, reached out of my comfort zone, and began drawing with chalk/pastels. I discovered another benefit to my new medium of creative effort: as I struggled with my vast lack of perfection, I could understand the struggle many of my students face in math.
What? You may be asking what does drawing have to do with student struggle. I say, EVERYTHING!!
Every day I ask my math students to step out of their comfort zones. Every day I ask students who have a history of failing, of not being perfect, to risk failing again. They are scared, and their fear comes out as refusal, defiance, silliness, and misbehavior. Sometimes they sleep. Math has always been easy for me, so how can I understand?
But art, art is not easy. I took art in high school, and 1 semester in college. I died with every assignment that did not look perfect, that did not look right. I struggled every time we had an assignment to do it the "right " way to get a good grade. I was seldom pleased with my efforts, but I always tried my best.
Playing with chalks and pastels now is not easy, and there is no grade involved. I want to reach out beyond my current boundaries. I have only my eyes and impressions to guide me. And teachers I know, IF I CHOOSE TO ASK. And videos I could watch, IF I CHOOSE TO LOOK. I have resources, but for now, I play.
I want my students to play with mathematical ideas. I want them to understand that they know so much more than they think they do, that they use math all the time, and that they use it well. I want them to understand that there is more than one way to get to an answer, and that there are many places to go for help ... IF THEY CHOOSE. I want them to know that I know what it is like to struggle and work, and that success is possible. It is.
So I will continue my artistic endeavors, hoping to produce something that is pleasing. I am happy to say that I do have a few pieces I like. I hope my students will experience a bit of fun in the math we do as well.
In the process of NOT blogging, I did determine I needed to be creative. So I branched out, reached out of my comfort zone, and began drawing with chalk/pastels. I discovered another benefit to my new medium of creative effort: as I struggled with my vast lack of perfection, I could understand the struggle many of my students face in math.
What? You may be asking what does drawing have to do with student struggle. I say, EVERYTHING!!
Every day I ask my math students to step out of their comfort zones. Every day I ask students who have a history of failing, of not being perfect, to risk failing again. They are scared, and their fear comes out as refusal, defiance, silliness, and misbehavior. Sometimes they sleep. Math has always been easy for me, so how can I understand?
But art, art is not easy. I took art in high school, and 1 semester in college. I died with every assignment that did not look perfect, that did not look right. I struggled every time we had an assignment to do it the "right " way to get a good grade. I was seldom pleased with my efforts, but I always tried my best.
Playing with chalks and pastels now is not easy, and there is no grade involved. I want to reach out beyond my current boundaries. I have only my eyes and impressions to guide me. And teachers I know, IF I CHOOSE TO ASK. And videos I could watch, IF I CHOOSE TO LOOK. I have resources, but for now, I play.
I want my students to play with mathematical ideas. I want them to understand that they know so much more than they think they do, that they use math all the time, and that they use it well. I want them to understand that there is more than one way to get to an answer, and that there are many places to go for help ... IF THEY CHOOSE. I want them to know that I know what it is like to struggle and work, and that success is possible. It is.
So I will continue my artistic endeavors, hoping to produce something that is pleasing. I am happy to say that I do have a few pieces I like. I hope my students will experience a bit of fun in the math we do as well.
Comments
Post a Comment