I Get It by Jaimy

I Get It by Jaimy - October 2016 Scholarship Essay

If I were to become a teacher math would be the subject I would pick to teach. During my freshman year of high school math was a nightmare for me. I had a tutor and felt enormous frustration trying to grasp the concept of equations. I remember the moment it clicked. It was almost like I could hear the click in my head. I let out a huge “I get it” and never looked back.

Now math is my easiest class and I bounce from desk to desk helping other students who are struggling. I can appreciate their frustration and understand it might take a minute to help them get past that. I often explain how I used to struggle too. And I assure them that if I learned it they can too. Then I can sit with them and slowly take them through each step. I recognize when they are getting aggravated and will take a step back when I sense this. And after a few attempts to explain the equation I get to hear my friends yell “I get it”.

As a student who has personally felt the frustration I would be sensitive to what the students are needing. I think students learn best when they are having fun. If I sensed I was losing the class I would shift gears and find a way to bring them back. I would explain how equations are like one big puzzle and once you put that puzzle together it will all make sense. I would likely put them in groups and ensure someone in the group understood the equation. I would then set up a fun game or contest to distract them from their frustration and get them focused on something fun.
It would be rewarding for me to help students who are struggling and so many have struggles with math. My goal would be to get every student to yell “I get it” by the end of the lesson. Perhaps I would make up a game called “I get it” to keep the group laughing.