Advice
I had a terrible math education growing up. I was undiagnosed with dyslexia and adhd. So school was hard. I got by by the skin of my teeth. I excelled in geometry because of how tangible it was. Fast forward I ended up getting hired as a 4th grade math only teacher (😬) realized I was teaching math in a way that was purely algorithm based and I didn’t truly understand anything.
My district ended up sending me to the NCTM conference and my world opened up. For the first time I could see what my gaps were, what I should be doing and then dedicated the next 5 years to becoming an expert in elementary mathematics (really K-8) I got a masters degree as a math specialist funded through my district, but really didn’t want to be a math specialist. I just wanted to know everything about math.
I have worked as a math specialist for one year, and I hate it, the teachers at my school are all outstanding and so appreciative of my support (I really treat the job as I am a teachers assistant and just do what ever I can to make their lives easier). Admin and my district are happy with me, but I miss working with children in my own classroom.
All this to say, I still love math, and love teaching but I want to teach high school. I am in Virginia and would need to take the 5165 praxis. But I am scared… I am worried my gaps are too deep, that I won’t be able to self teach. I truly understand mathematics now, but that extends as far as advanced 8th grade. Would I even know where to start?
Do you think it’s possible for me to get to where I can learn math throughly and basically teach myself high school math all over (now I’m talking about calculus, trigonometry, and statistics). The highly advanced concepts in high school that I never took?
What’s my best course of action?