When we did the TPI, I scored lower on the social reform perspective compared to the others. I am passionate about social reform, and really believe that social justice issues need to be involved in schools, but I always imagined it as a priority for other subjects, not in math class. After seeing my results, I started to question that assumption, and have been looking into different ways teachers have been incorporating the two together. This is why I really appreciate the reading we got this week. Stocker's approach to teaching mathematics seems like something I could really get behind. I agree with his assertion that numbers are everywhere, and in order to not be manipulated by them, students need to understand their meaning. As a teacher, I want to change students' perspectives towards math, teach something that will have a lasting impact on my students, and nurture a curious, supportive, and active class environment. I think a social justice perspective could provide an engaging lens for achieving these goals.
I did have some hesitations towards using social justice in math, but Stocker addressed them in his introduction, which put me slightly more at ease. I know it won't be easy, but I definitely agree it is something worth trying. Something I would like to practice in our class would be taking some higher level curriculum (grade 11 or 12), and brainstorming ideas for lesson plans that have a focus on social issues.
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