Math Autobiography

Looking back on the Primary/Elementary grades, I can remember a lot about mathematics. In Kindergarten, we had a number chart on the wall, with the numbers 1 to 20. I don’t remember how often per week, but we would sit on the carpet and count. In grade one, there were numbers everywhere. We learned how to count to 100, by 1s, 2s, 5s and 10s. We also learned how to write numbers 1-20. I remember every classroom having colourful posters with numbers, the operations, charts, and eventually multiplication tables.

My best memory of mathematics in my primary and elementary years is from grade two. Due to our school closing, we had limited space so the top ten students from grade two were put in a classroom with grade ones. I enjoyed helping the grade one students with their math (and other subjects) once I finished my own work. I believe that this experience was what set my mind on becoming a teacher, I enjoyed helping others and I loved school. I can honestly say that I have no bad memories associated with math.

I was very good at math. I know this because I never struggled with it and I always received high marks on tests and quizzes. I also know this because the teacher would always pair me with someone who was weaker at math, so that I could help them.

The role of the teacher in math class was to teach the concepts in a way that everyone understood them. I think she (always had a female teacher) did that fairly well as there were only a couple of people who had difficulty with the concepts. I think she felt very strongly about mathematics. She always had a positive attitude towards the subject and always tried to help those who were struggling by either pairing them with a stronger student or sitting down to help them one on one.

Assessment came in various forms. Most times I didn’t know what we were doing was actually an assessment. It’s only now that I know the different types of assessment that I realize what we were actually doing. I obviously knew that tests and quizzes were assessment, but we also had a problem of the week where we had to take home a math problem on Monday and have solved it by Friday.

I absolutely loved math in high school. I always loved math, but I had an excellent teacher and I think that really enhanced my love for the subject.

Once I came to university, I was turned from math. I talked to the academic advisors that came to my school before choosing my schedule. I had an A+ in math, but he suggested that I take math 1050 and 1051, as they were the best courses for the education faculty. I absolutely hated those courses. I achieved an A in both of them, but I really did not enjoy them. After that I swore I’d never take another math course unless I had to.


I engage with math on a daily basis. Even though those university courses turned me from taking more math courses, I still love math. I try to make everything about numbers. I always notice when the clock says 12:34 and I notice numbers on everything, for example on the bottom of drinking glasses (weird, I know).