For many of us, math instruction has changed significantly from when we were in school. Parents are often curious as to why their children are learning things differently than they did. In BC, we are very fortunate to have a curriculum that supports our children in not only learning math content (numbers, shape, space, patterns etc.), but also in learning and developing the skills necessary to DO math. While mathematics is the study of number concepts, numeracy is the skill set required to solve mathematical problems in everyday life. It is for this reason that mathematics in the classroom has to include meaningful learning opportunities for students to develop skills like problem solving, questioning, reasoning, analyzing, communicating, connecting and representing.
"Numeracy is the ability to understand and apply mathematical concepts, processes and skills to solve problems in a variety of contexts" - BC Curriculum Website
There are many amazing educational leaders out there who have influenced my philosophy and practice. In particular, Peter Liljedahl (author of Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics), Jo Boaler (Professor at Stanford University) and Dan Finkel (For the Love of Math).
Here are some must watch videos that offer more insight into my beliefs about math, listed below.
1.) Anyone can be a math person! The brain is like a muscle in that it has the potential to grow and change. The more you use your brain, the more learning will happen. 2.) Math is more than solving equations. It is about asking questions, noticing and making sense of the math that surrounds us! 3.) Mistakes are part of learning and help our brain grow. 4.) Learning happens best through discovery, and meaningful learning experiences that appeal to our natural curiosities. 5.) Math is not about being fast or rote memorization. Time, experiences and deep thinking lead to understanding which results in increased fluency. 6.) A Positive attitude about ourselves as math students, plays a huge role in our success. 7.) Collaborative learning opportunities are a must in a math classroom.
Looking for more math tasks or practice? See below for a list of some of my favourite sites!