Math Textbooks

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The examples of using first/second person pronouns in math textbooks never occurred to me. I'm still not quite convinced that this plays an important role on the student's learning experience. As a student, I don't think I would be able to tell the difference. But as a teacher, maybe I could see why some one could reason this. The language of uncertainty within textbooks were frustrating as a student, because math is usually a subject with specific answers. As a teacher, this uncertainty is good because it engages the student more and provokes inquiry within the students.

As with most people, I feel that textbooks are a tool that must be utilized correctly by the teacher/students. If you're teaching straight from the textbook, then why do you need to be there? Students could just read the textbook at home or find a source online to learn. As a teacher, you have to engage them, not just teach from the textbook. A textbook is definitely a powerful tool, but it needs to be used correctly. The convenience of textbooks is mostly the problems/resources they provide. Being a teacher, you have to provide/transmit the main source of education, the textbook is just a tool/resource. Personally I find textbooks very helpful, but they cannot be the only thing you use in class to teach.

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