1. Teaching My Two Cents Worth
By Robin Kay

2. Four Key Components Confidence Constructivism
Personally Meaningful Activities and/or Creative Activities
Reflection

3. Confidence
Math is a subject in which many students have low confidence
You are in the business of building confidence
You need to understand where a student does feel confident and slowly build from there
John Mighton – Grade 3 (Fractions)
For every activity, ask yourself “Did every child understand?”

4. Constructivism Learning is not a spectator sport
Students need to be actively involved in creating meaning
For every activity, I ask myself “What can I do to have the students attempt to construct their own meaning?”

5. Personal Meaning / Creativity
“I have been struck by the power of the computer game to mesmerize, to hold the attention of otherwise restless children for hours and even days. I have watched … unruly children, focus, study, collaborate, and solve problems. They read hint books and save checkpoints, the better to be able to try “what-if” scenarios. They consult; they create; they solve. They do all the activities we wish them to do in pursuit of an education: What a shame that what is being learned is so trivial, so worthless.” (Donald Norman, Electronic Learning, Jan 2000)

6. Personal Meaning / Creativity
You really need to try to figure out what kind of content motivates your students: music, relationships, movies, computer games, sports, cars, fashion: Do you know your students?
I challenge you to get to know your students in your practicum
The power of creativity is absolutely amazing
If you are successful, say goodbye to many classroom management problems

7. Reflection
If you can reflect after your class, on how it honestly went, you will be a good teacher
There are many “thing” you can blame: the students, the environment, the equipment, the associate teacher … BUT you need to ask yourself “What could I do to have made that class better?”
From my experience, many teachers blame the students
From my experience, when you start teaching you won’t be able to reflect very well, at first

8. Summary Confidence Constructivism
Personally Meaningful Activities and/or Creative Activities
Reflection