Both the articles cited below back my words. The first article, "How Math Knowledge Leads to Better Math Teaching," by Maria Fusaro, studies this idea and actually puts the idea to the test by using deeper methodical studies and assessment, and they found that a teacher who possesses a strong understanding of mathematics and its concepts helps students develop a deeper understanding of math. When a teacher understands the hows and whys, they can better answer the child and provide them with the answers and support they need. This study also shows that teachers are more likely to avoid mistakes when teaching the math concept when they possess the whys and hows. The second article, "How Important Is the 'Why' in Math Class?", also explains how when teachers understand the why in math, it deepens the students' understanding, helps the students' retention, and improves their confidence. I also remember turning in math test, praying (literally) that I did the process right and that I didn't forget a step, but when I took the math class at CMU, I typically walked out with confidence (still praying, but this time a prayer of thanks not a miracle), and this truly boiled down to understanding the why behind the math concepts. Overall, understanding the hows and whys behind math isn't only beneficial to us as educators, but also to our students. Math can so easily turn into a negative time, but with persistence and true understanding, we can set our students up for success