Episode 52 | Why do we teach Math, with Sunil Singh
Sunil Singh, the Mathematical Jester himself, joins us again via Skype this week. Yes he has a book that is just out (that everyone should read) and has been busy recording webinars and traveling about as a Lead Ambassador to the Global Math Project; but he stops to talk about some deep ideas with Chris.… Continue Reading
Real Life Math Really Does Happen
John Urschel is is an offensive lineman for the Baltimore Ravens. He is also currently pursuing his doctorate in applied mathematics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In a recent commentary in Education Week he said, “In some sense, everybody has to become a mathematician. We all face problems that require mathematical concepts. The better… Continue Reading
Empowering Students to see the Mathematics Around Them
My great adventure in the classroom has been going on a little over a week. I have absolutely loved doing math with 1st graders. In my last blog, I wrote about how important reflection is in learning, and how I would need to prioritize time for reflection. Teaching has reminded me of the amazing amount… Continue Reading
What I learned about Teaching Mathematics from the Great British Baking Show
During the past month I indulged in watching one of my favorite shows, The Great British Baking Show on PBS. The drama, the flour, the sugar and oh, how I love those British accents. For those of you unfamiliar with the show, it is a contest that begins with twelve bakers and at the end… Continue Reading
Tell Me How You Really Feel About Math
A few weeks ago, I had the honor of presenting to over 300 early learning professionals on what is really becoming my passion, the idea of mathematizing children’s environments and making connections between the math they experience while at school and the math that they experience in their daily lives. Though I would love to… Continue Reading
Episode 51 | Our Genesis as Mathematically Inclined Thinkers
Chris is joined in the studio by James Tanton, and the conversation immediately gets turned upside down. James takes over from the start and asks Chris about how it was that he knew he wanted to study math. After his, perhaps too long-winded of a story, Chris finally wrests control back and asks James the… Continue Reading
Thinking About a Professional Community of Practice
Different teaching assignments, new class rosters, new schedules, perhaps a different building administrator, and returning colleagues, all of these are annual traditions that teachers embrace at the start of every new school year. I would like to suggest teachers add professional relationships and professional learning to their lists at the opening of the 2017-18 school… Continue Reading
Gleanings From the Tree of Life
August is the month when educators return to work. Many of you have spent days preparing for the start of school and are now in full swing in your classrooms. It’s almost like we never had a vacation right? While I work year round, I am still feeling the excitement of the start of school… Continue Reading
Lesson From Mexico: Pan De Mujer
Every day on the way to our work site in Mexico, we passed a small sign on the side of a similarly small building that said, “Pan de Mujer, 5 pesos.” I speak Spanish but I was still a little unsure what this meant. I knew the words, but “woman’s bread” didn’t make sense, so… Continue Reading
My First Days as an AIMS Research Associate
My first three days at AIMS was a blur of activity (side note: I was a kindergarten teacher just prior to coming to AIMS). As a new member on the Early Math team, I jumped right into helping organize final preparations for a full day of seminars for over 300 teachers and aides at Head… Continue Reading
