Why do you want to be a special education teacher? What is your vision/belief about teaching mathematics to your students?
When it comes to math, money is an important concept. I want my students to understand that eventually they will have to make their own decisions and this will include paying bills and working for a paycheck. Being that people with disabilities can be taken advantage of (at times more than most other people), it's important that they understand the value of computing their wages, bills, and other things that involve monetary exchanges. I sincerely believe that people, in general, are good people. At the same time, I am very aware that there are people who have no spines and will take the opportunity to take from people, even if they have disabilities. I want my students to understand this when I am done teaching them.
I found it very interesting how you focused your goal and desires for being a special education teacher around money. Why is this? I know that money is one concept that goes along when teaching math to students, but it just struck me as odd how that was your first idea. You are correct though, money and financial responsibility is a concept that is very important to teach our students, special education or not.
ReplyDeleteI like the way Hattie pushed you on this, Gabriel. What is it specifically about money that makes you so interested in working with our children with special needs?
ReplyDeleteI interpret what you said about money a little more globally. I think what you might be getting at is about justice, and how it is our students who have the most varied might benefit the most from mathematical literacy in their lives, whether it is in terms of money, time, taxes, transportation, or anything else that requires understanding numbers. Fostering a sense of numerical empowerment among our students who have to exist in a society that might not be suited for them will only help them see and therefore eradicate the injustices that fact them. Is that kind of what you're saying, Gabriel?
@Hatiera - Its bc Im poor... lol jk
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