Math Autobiography

What has been my path to Math???

It all started as a student, in Grade 7, when I had to make a very vital decision in my schooling. Would I choose the advanced Math route or French Immersion, because I could not do both!  I choose the Math, despite all my closer friends choosing the French. I had a goal for myself to do university Math in high school.  Well that plan kinda crumbled when in Grade 8 the French Immersion students were allowed to join the advanced math group and skip grade 8 Math. So I was still in Math however, didn't get the opportunity to join the French a year later, it was too late.

Math wasn't a subject that came easy to me. I had to work at it A LOT! The one thing I did like about the subject is that I knew there was always an answer at the end. There was none of this gray matter like English, if I kept trying I knew that I could get to the end and get it right. (Of course today my viewpoints have a changed a little as I challenge my students with problems.)  I stuck with the advanced program, and forced myself to keep pushing though despite the not so good exam marks at times, they just made me work harder.

I've always liked working with numbers, figuring out the cost of things, how much of a discount would I be getting, playing with the calculator...

Today I teach Grade 5 Mathematics and have been for the past 5 years. I've worked with the Dept of ED with the new math program and have enjoyed the experience.

I love the classes when I have to try new strategies for learners and they work!!! What an awesome feeling when you see the light bulb go off and they are able to do it!

Angela