Most people that know me know that I have always struggled with math.  I can remember as early as 2nd grade sitting at the table with my mom going over math facts and not being able to quite “get it.”  I was always that one kid in math class that would pay attention, actively participate, and even go to the chalk board to practice problems, and still wouldn’t “get it.”  I remember having to deal with the fact that all of my close friends were able to take Algebra I in 8th grade.  Not me…I had to take Pre-Algebra.  I think I was sort of embarrassed by this.  I always considered myself a good student, but this math thing always stood in my way.  What made it even worse was the fact that it seemed to always build on the last concept taught.  That meant I was stuck in a never ending cycle of not knowing!  Ugggghhhh!

So I go to high school in the fall of ’95 and I am super excited.  I am finally at the big school where my mom teaches.  I am excited about everything except Algebra I.  I have it 2nd period and I can still remember who my teacher was.  I will say this boldly, she was not the best teacher.  It was bad from the very beginning.  I remember failing a couple of tests and basically not given an opportunity to re-test (crazy).  I had to switch teachers later and basically lost another year of math.

Let’s fast forward to my senior year.  I took Algebra II as a senior, which was a good choice.  My teacher was Daryl Edwards and he was the single reason that my fear of math began to go away.  He introduced our class to a little device called the TI-82.  Who knew they made a calculator that could basically do every math problem? Who also knew that he would show us how to use it effectively?  Well, he did!  I finished the class with a 99 average!  And even more powerful, I learned the math!

I went off to college and had to take two math classes: College Algebra, and Structure of the Number System.  I used the calculator and blew through College Algebra with an “A”.  I didn’t do to well in the Structure class.  I barely squeaked out of that class.  I felt like I was in the 9th grade again!  I didn’t know anything from start to finish.  Whew!

Let’s fast forward to the fall of 2002 around November.  It is time for everyone to find out where they would be student teaching.  Sitting in a seminar Dr. Bailey, the director of field experiences gives everyone their student teaching assignment.  I open mine and it says Herbert O’Neil-Schultz Middle School, Waller ISD.  I’m excited because I think that I received just what I wanted.  I call the school the next day and they told me that I would be paired up with Bryan Wright a 6th grade math teacher.  My first reaction is “whatever” these people are playing with me.  There is no way that I could teach any math beyond maybe 3rd grade.  Besides my specialization is Reading and English.  Well, turns out it couldn’t be changed.  Yes, I had to teach math a whole semester.  It was not easy!  I had to work at it.  I went home and studied most nights so I could put my best foot forward with the students.  It was uncomfortable most days, but it made me a better teacher.

The moral of this story is that my weakness had to be destroyed!  As much as I still do not like many forms of math, I would not be where I am now without conquering some form of math.  The student teaching experience was very humbling to me.  I worked hard to make my lessons relevant and engaging because I didn’t want the students to end up like me.  I had to work hard to ensure they learned.

As educators we have to remember those students that work hard and still do not get it.  We have to find what works for them.  We can never stop at one way to find the key to their success!