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When Are We Ever Going To Use This Math? Math can be a gateway to life skills and benefits beyond diploma requirements. This month's newsletter begins the four-month Math Confidence series on answering this oft-asked question with "M is for Mental Fitness" -- stay tuned as "A", "T" and "H" are revealed in the July, August and September e-newsletters. |
When Are We Ever Gonna Use This MATH?
"M" is for Mental Fitness
This question (When Are We Ever...) is addressed by many Math programs with applications of algebra, geometry and trig. However, studying Math has many other payoffs such as mental fitness and sharpness. "When Are We Ever Going to Use This Math?" is perhaps more a complaint posed as a question. From June through September, each month will feature another positive takeaway of studying Math.
While physical fitness is a common goal (and New Year's resolution), mental or brain fitness is just gaining popularity. Over 40,000 people(many of them weekend athletes) ran the NYC Marathon in November but few adults challenge themselves on a cognitive marathon (such as the SAT). Math improves brain fitness just like running increases physical fitness.
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Recommended Reading
 What should students learn? How should teachers teach? What is the role of parents? Jo Boaler offers not "specific cures" but a frank discussion of ideas on improving Math education and how it can benefit people and society. She mentions the "euphoria of problem-solving" (the "EUREKA!"), the active learning process and the self-regulation, flexibility and adaptability that Math can strengthen.
Boaler's ideas include changing lesson formats to avoid monotony, helping parents stay involved and informed and helping people to embrace errors because they are really good for learning! This book has an interesting subtitle: Helping Children Love to Learn Their Least Favorite Subject and Why It's Important to America. Prof. Boaler writes: "There are two versions of Math -- the strange and boring school subject and an interesting set of ideas that is engaging". |
