tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390087221610436679.post3279243954118034068..comments2023-08-08T10:32:16.298-04:00Comments on paint splashes: Math BuzzingRosie_Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08363843512357526257noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390087221610436679.post-64330318072948967102013-09-19T14:21:22.784-04:002013-09-19T14:21:22.784-04:00I've seen this with Samuel lately. He has a ha...I've seen this with Samuel lately. He has a hard time memorizing steps and he is always trying to come up with his own way to do things. It seems his way is always a lot harder and more circuitous and doesn't always lead to the right place. But he definitely thinks that way. So the question is HOW does someone develop the intuitive relationship with math? How does someone avoid all the time consuming rabbit trails in the process that could also be discouraging?<br />Clayvesselhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07796290313996857351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390087221610436679.post-65461941337974551022013-09-19T08:59:10.081-04:002013-09-19T08:59:10.081-04:00I'll get right on that. :-)I'll get right on that. :-)Rosie_Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08363843512357526257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390087221610436679.post-75893973876145942582013-09-19T08:57:04.121-04:002013-09-19T08:57:04.121-04:00Do you remember how to do quadratic functions? Do...Do you remember how to do quadratic functions? Do you know how to USE them? No? You're missing something. You have a hole in your math. Do you remember half of what you learned about math methods? You have LOTS of holes in your math. But you do okay, right?<br /><br />Math absolutely does teach us how to think, but only if we actually use it to think. Most of the time in math class, we just apply the formulas and methods we're told to use for a certain situation. If we encounter something in real life requiring that method, we have no idea what to do. I have experienced that. I got good grades in math, but that doesn't actually mean I'm good at it. I don't know how to use a good portion of it. I just have a good enough memory to get the answers "right" and pass tests.<br /><br />There was an interview with a guy who works in robotics and actually invents math to solve his problems. He said that it doesn't really matter WHAT math kids are learning as long as they are learning to use it. He said it's far more important to develop mathematical curiosity and and intuitive relationship with math because that is what gets him through his work.<br /><br />Of course math instruction needs to be somewhat progressive in an age-appropriate way, but we don't need to take that too far. If something is "missed" it can be picked up later when necessary. We tend to take the right vs. wrong issue so far that we end up thinking there is only one way to solve a problem, when in fact there can be many ways to arrive at the same answer, but we don't see or encourage that (and THAT is where the thinking comes in). We are so uptight about "right answer" that we call collaboration "cheating", when in fact learning math as a group helps with the thinking process and allows us to learn to understand math from other people's thinking. Maybe math is about more than "right answers". Rosie_Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08363843512357526257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390087221610436679.post-7868039755853306332013-09-18T23:25:03.226-04:002013-09-18T23:25:03.226-04:00Now let's have a post and some more photos of ...Now let's have a post and some more photos of that sweet little lump of baby flesh!Clayvesselhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07796290313996857351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2390087221610436679.post-74400242942297310672013-09-18T23:23:10.909-04:002013-09-18T23:23:10.909-04:00But...but....but!
Math is my weakest subject. Whi...But...but....but!<br /><br />Math is my weakest subject. Which made me suck at chemistry and physics also. So I probably shouldn't say much on this. My understanding is that math is the ultimate in orderliness and a black and white world. In math, something is either completely right or completely wrong. No middle or almost. Thus the red check marks when one little mistake leads to a completely wrong answer. Which is frustratingly discouraging.<br /><br />I've heard all the "practical life application" arguments with the un-schooling movement and it seems to me that that approach leaves too many holes. Don't we need to be methodical and progressive in understanding so nothing is left out or missed? Dry and boring, yes. <br />The other argument I've been given is that higher math -that you don't use every day unless you are an electrician or a scientist- teaches you to THINK. Otherwise, really, we don't need math at all now that we have digital devices to do the calculations for us. Though we would need to understand WHICH calculations to use. <br /><br />Just my random thoughts...<br /><br />Clayvesselhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07796290313996857351noreply@blogger.com