Day 3 Morning

Describe your teaching.

Wow, that is a loaded question! When I teach I guess I have two main areas that I focus on. First is my subject content (math) and making it clear to my students. I am a big believer in listing out steps for procedures and modeling problem solving techniques. I give students many examples so that they have something to refer to when it is time for them to work problems on their own.
My second focus is relating the content to my students and making it interesting to them. I was once asked in an interview how I did this and my reply was "Any way I can!" I use buying a car (What 8th grader doesn't want a car?) to teach interest and tax and then on to unit rate (mpg). Later when we study linear equations and rate of change I can refer back to the car and mpg. For some topics I rely on the students to relate it to their lives. They can certainly come up with some strange connections, but if it works I'm okay with it.
I try to make sure my students know that I care about them as individuals. If they know you care, they are more trusting and more willing to work for you.