Introduction Post

Swire, B. © Spring 2015.

Hi Everyone! Welcome to my Mathematics Education Page! My name is Kathlene, I graduated this year from McMaster University with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, Minor in Geography. Currently, I am a teacher candidate at Brock University. Throughout my education, I have discovered that I love to help others learn and reach their full potential, and for this reason, amongst many others, is why I want to become a teacher within the Junior/Intermediate age divisions.

My first time wake surfing.
Katic, K. © 2015.

Aside from my passion to help others, I am generally a very happy, enthusiastic person who loves life! I am an avid gym-goer, and I thoroughly enjoy active participation in sports such as waterskiing and wake surfing (yes, actual surfing is on my list of things to do!). My favourite way to unwind is to attend MokshaYoga classes as I have found that being in a peaceful, encouraging environment is an excellent way to strengthen the body and calm the mind. If you’re interested in Hot Yoga, be sure to check out Kino MacGregor’s website - she is a well renowned yogi and I can only hope to achieve some of her poses...one day! In addition to being physically active, I am an avid cook and baker, I love to spend time with my family and friends (especially at the cottage: see below), and I am a total country girl at heart. 

My happy place: the sunrise view from my cottage.
Katic, K. © 2015.

As you can see, I am an extremely active, creative person, and I hope to incorporate some of these strategies into my teaching methods in order to help students engage with material, understand theories and apply concepts.

In this introductory mathematics class, I hope to learn simple, effective strategies for teaching math to my students, whether that be through appealing visual aids, real world applications, and the like. Too often in my own elementary school career I was left feeling as though I did not understand mathematical concepts, and the teacher would move forward from the topic with students trailing behind. I am aiming to figure out strategies that teach every student to engage, understand and apply mathematical concepts, and not feel as though they are being left behind if a concept is unclear. I also hope to encourage a positive, proactive learning environment by teaching students it is ok to make mistakes, just take a step back, relax, regroup and move forward, after all mistakes can be the best way to learn!