Be the Anchor!

An anchor is a device used to keep a vessel from drifting away without clear direction. It is grounded and provides stability for everyone on board. Much like the anchor on a boat, we need to be grounded in our understanding of the math we teach. Our attitudes about the importance of using math to make sense of the world around us should be evident, so students see the value in learning required content. This requires us to take the time we need to sit in the seat of the learner and explore math for our own enjoyment. As fall settles in and educators begin to find their groove, we finally get a moment to consider how we would like to expand our toolboxes and hone our craft. Conference season is a great time to do just that. Whether you attend virtually or in person, it is essential that we take time to build upon our expertise and connect with other educators. Even if you don’t have any conferences on your calendar for this season, perhaps it’s time to create your own spaces to connect with colleagues locally. Once I took the time to explore mathematics to understand the why of it all, I couldn’t contain my excitement. I wanted my students to experience this feeling of knowing the answer and why the mathematics worked, so they could become flexible in their thinking and develop a positive relationship with mathematics. The more I understood, the more effective my instruction became. As an anchor in my classroom, I needed to present mathematics in a way that would engage students and keep their attention from drifting away. Join forces with others this fall, so you can expand your math tool box and become the Mather your students need you to be.