Math Memoir The Series: Part 5

I know it has been a minute but whoa has time flown by... here is the latest Math Memoir from someone who isn't on anyone's radar as a "math person" but helps us to see that we are all math persons since we do math even when we don't realize it and sometimes when we do and we are working on something fun.

This is from Emily Haxton, Junior AP English Language & Composition and Sophomore Honors English, at Lewis & Clark High School in Spokane, Washington, USA.

I think it’s safe to say that most people assume English teachers are not the best math students. I’ve actually heard my colleagues say as much, so it’s no wonder the stereotype exists. But I am an English teacher who embraces math in my classroom. It can be extremely helpful for some of my concrete-sequential learners to think about language structures and arguments as formulas, so I’m often coming up with math analogies to help solidify their understanding. Since I’m comfortable with math concepts, I’m able to help them bridge the gap between the familiar step-by-step procedures and unfamiliar written abstractions.

Outside of the classroom I use math ALL OF THE TIME. I am a quilter. Geometric shapes and patterns are always in my head. I have stacks of fabric in my house, and I’m always looking at a pictures of quilt blocks and breaking them down to figure out how to a) construct them, and b) how much fabric I would need for each component. Most quilters I know are afraid of math and pay good money to have someone else tell them how to proceed. Not only have I saved hundreds of dollars on patterns, but I also have more creative freedom to manipulate a design as I wish. I also get a little bit of a thrill every time my calculations result in a beautiful, finished product. 😊

Comments

How are the best of the best recognized in Mathematics?

Mathematicians are often touted as the smartest people on the planet but then you hear about the best and brightest winning the Nobel Prize in Physics, Chemistry, Literature, Medicine, Economics... Peace... but not MATHEMATICS. I haven't really thought too much about it until I started to research for this post. I knew Mathematicians had their own awards and just left it at that. Well, let's take a look at what was up with Alfred Nobel and then talk about the biggest math prizes. Source: Wikipedia Alfred Nobel Born Alfred Bernhard Nobel 21 October 1833 Stockholm , Sweden Died 10 December 1896 (aged 63) Sanremo , Italy Nobel was a Swedish chemist and inventor. He holds 355 patents with dynamite being the most well known. After being criticized for making a fortune off of the production of armaments, he decided to leave his fortune to the Nobel Prize Institute to change his legacy. His last will and testament set aside monies to establish the Nobel Prizes. These prizes were to be

Counting All the Ways We Do Algebra... and don't know it.

I don't know about you but every time I see this meme, shared on Social Media, my blood boils. I think it says a lot about our current culture and state of education but that is for another day. Instead I want to talk about how much we use Algebra and don't even think about it. I would love to hear if you have examples to add to my list. When you calculate the time you need to leave your house or need to wake up so that you make it to your destination on time... ALGEBRA! When you perceive the distance to something you are trying to grab or the location something will drop if it is thrown or falls. This is a calculation that even a 16-month old baby is capable of doing instinctually. It is also ALGEBRA! When you channel your inner Kobe to make a garbage can shot from across the room. Your brain is calculating the distance to the can, air resistance, the weight of the trash, the trajectory, and the force required. But your calculations don't stop there. Your brain is also e

Math Memoir - The Series 2

This Math Memoir was submitted by @golda.abs on instagram.

Search This Blog