Group+Question

One of the Principles and Standards from School Mathematics (NCTM) states that students must learn mathematics with understanding, actively building new knowledge from experiences and prior knowledge.” A student will not be able to learn with understanding if a teacher does not know how the student learns, how they express themselves, how they interact with other students, and what motivates them to want to learn. In order to build new knowledge on prior knowledge, teacher must make an effort to find out what the student’s prior knowledge and experiences are. It is also helpful to understand the student’s culture, home life, and community involvement. All these aspects can directly impact the way a teacher creates learning in the classroom.
 * Cynthia**:

**Deborah**: The students reflect the community, and teachers must understand that they are immersed in their world and not vice versa. Hence, it is important for students to feel that they are understood. When teachers go out of the way to make their classrooms culturally relevant to their specific cultural background, the students who enter the classroom feel welcome as part of a larger cultural melting pot.


 * Jackson**: When we as teachers identify and understand the social context of learning in our classrooms, it informs our instruction to meet the students needs. As I work with my classroom, I see that the students have a low aptitude towards learning mathematics and acquiring an academic vocabulary. I observe their varied interests regarding musical instruments, cell phones, talking, making jokes. I'm also aware of their learning styles and how some of the motivated students get fidgety when the teacher reviews material, and how they all hone in whenever he introduces a new topic. I see how when the achieving students are chatting in the back of the room, the surrounding students get disturbed and the student they are chatting with often doesn't understand the material. I notice other students that don't take notes within class, nor do homework, yet do exceptionally well on the exams. I think as an educator, these observations can inform my instruction to make the lesson particularly relevant to students. If I could channel all their energy to focus their mental efforts in class, than everyone will benefit in the long run.