I have been teaching off and on since 1985. I have taught grades 7-12 as well as adult education and GED preparation classes. My job as a math teacher is to not only teach skills but to take the fear and anxiety out of learning math.

I use languaged based mathematics. This means I use analogies and stories to help the student learn and retain skills. I show the student that a "new" skill is simply an extention or reuse of an old skill they have already mastered.

I use root words to help students learn math vocabulary. I also use memory tricks and hand gestures to help the students learn and retain vocabulary.

I break each skill down to help the student learn the skill and then help them to get to the point where they can do a more advanced method to solve a problem.