Math Autobiography

 Hi! My name is Anna Mercer Willingham. I am studying to be an elementary school teacher when I graduate from college. One important aspect of my studies is learning how to best teach mathematic concepts to children. However, there are often negative emotions about math for elementary schoolers, so it is important for me to go back and remember my own memories and experiences with math.  When thinking about mathematics, I often think of the basic elementary math concepts, like addition and subtraction. I think of feeling frustrated when I could not understand a math concept, but I also remember enjoying math and having fun in math when I felt confident. However, I often only think of math in the context of school. Career choices never come to mind when thinking of math. I usually group math and science together and think of those as separate skills from reading, English, or history. With that comes the idea that when a student is skilled in one area, they dislike the other. Thinking of