Ms. Math Aide
I love math. I even love it when it gets difficult, especially when it gets difficult because trying to figure it out is fun for me. More than I love math I love helping other people figure out and understand math. I currently work at JPJMS as a math aide. My job is to support students and teachers in math classes. Sometimes this is not easy. Sometimes I don’t know exactly what is expected of me. Sometimes students are unkind to other students. Sometimes I want to go home and take a nap.
This week in Math7 we are learning about adding and subtracting integers. Today we start the subtracting part, and that can be very difficult for some students. (Remember how when subtracting a negative number you are actually adding…) Working with positive and negative numbers is an important skill and is used in all secondary math classes.
Yesterday in fifth period, after the teacher had presented the lesson, I noticed a student that kept flipping through their book like they were searching for an explanation. I sat down by him and was able to review the parts of the lesson that he had not understood. English was not his first language, and he just needed a little support. I loved watching his confidence in the concept grow as his understanding grew.
Some class periods I don’t help more than one or two students, and then it usually takes less than ten minutes for them to understand. Occasionally there are class periods where no one needs or wants math help, and I end up on hold for 45 minutes. After a rough day I start to wonder if my job is a waste of taxpayer money. At around $15/hr I end up costing the school district about $6000/year. When I start to go down this mind path I look back at the day or week or year as a whole and think of the students that were able to understand multiplying integers, slope intercept form, interval notation, probability, how to use a TI30 or TI84 calculator, how to prove congruency, etc with just a little one on one support from a math aide. From me. I frequently think about how mastering the thinking processes used in math help individuals meet their potential. It is worth it for the school district to employ me and others like me.
Public Education is for everyone. Families can choose to opt out of a public education, but the resource is there for everyone. All students deserve the opportunity to reach for their full potential that education provides. Students that need accommodations either for extra help or extra challenge deserve them. I am so grateful to live in a country and state that see the value and importance of offering free public elementary and secondary education for all residents. I feel very blessed to be a part of public education
