Getting Started

First things first. Let's get this out in the open. I'm new at this -- blogging that is.

But, I'm not new to teaching. And I'm not new to teaching Math. And I'm not new to children being frustrated and scared of Math. But I can tell right now, that it's going to be very different trying to help them by way of "keyboarding" rather than by "words, chalkboard, paper, counting sticks, pie pieces, manipulatives, etc." And yet I will be doing just that. At least I'm going to try to do just that.

Second, I know that I can help children lose their fear of Math in just a couple of days, maybe two weeks at most, if given a chance. The challenge will not be to help them. The challenge will be to take what I've learned in ways of helping and transfer that to the keyboard so that it comes out to "you out there." But I'm not afraid to try this unknown because I've seen fear and tears in children, become smiles, even exhilaration and exuberance, and helping them is in my bones! It may take some trial and error, but I'm willing to try. So come on in, be willing to grab a handful of pennies, or craft sticks, or whatever you may have handy and let's help kids.

Third, I'm going to aim this blog at the intermediate math student primarily because that's what I teach and that's where I see math and kids together. I'm a fifth grade teacher presently, although I've taught primary grades and tutored many middle school students in math. If your student is in 4-6 grades and struggling with math procedures or concepts, that's who I'm looking to help.

I pledge you my best as I try to balance teaching during the daytime and entering the blog world in the evenings. Be patient as I try to get this blog started and sort of get my balance. I feel, right now at least, that I'm looking at a huge, huge map and I'm trying to find a few grid lines so I can get my bearings. But the thought just came to me -- that's just what children are doing today, and if I can help them find their own "longitude and latitude lines", I know that will make them smile and that will make my day.