Course: How to Learn Math

Jo Boaler has kindly asked me to spread the word about her free, upcoming course How to Learn Math. It sounds intriguing; in fact, I signed up and hope to be able to attend (to have the time).

Here's her description of it:

The course is a short intervention designed to change students' relationships with math. I have taught this intervention successfully in the past (in classrooms); it caused students to re-engage successfully with math, taking a new approach to the subject and their learning.

In the 2013-2014 school year the course will be offered to learners of math but in July of 2013 I will release a version of the course designed for teachers and other helpers of math learners, such as parents. In the teacher/parent version I will share the ideas I will present to students and hold a conversation with teachers and parents about the ideas. There will also be sessions giving teachers/parents particular strategies for achieving changes in students and opportunities for participants to work together on ideas through the forum pages.

Concepts

1. Knocking down the myths about math.
Math is not about speed, memorization or learning lots of rules. There is no such thing as “math people” and non-math people. Girls are equally capable of the highest achievement. This session will include interviews with students.

2. Math and Mindset.
Participants will be encouraged to develop a growth mindset, they will see evidence of how mindset changes students’ learning trajectories, and learn how it can be developed.

3. Teaching Math for a Growth Mindset.
This session will give strategies to teachers and parents for helping students develop a growth mindset and will include an interview with Carol Dweck.

4. Mistakes, Challenges & Persistence.
What is math persistence? Why are mistakes so important? How is math linked to creativity? This session will focus on the importance of mistakes, struggles and persistence.

5. Conceptual Learning. Part I. Number Sense.
Math is a conceptual subject– we will see evidence of the importance of conceptual thinking and participants will be given number problems that can be solved in many ways and represented visually.

6. Conceptual Learning. Part II. Connections, Representations, Questions.
In this session we will look at and solve math problems at many different grade levels and see the difference in approaching them procedurally and conceptually. Interviews with successful users of math in different, interesting jobs (film maker, inventor of self-driving cars etc) will show the importance of conceptual math.

7. Appreciating Algebra.
Participants will be asked to engage in problems illustrating the beautiful simplicity of a subject with which they may have had terrible experiences.

8. Going From This Course to a New Mathematical Future.
This session will review where you are, what you can do and the strategies you can use to be really successful.

Math teachers play again

Math Teachers at Play carnival is posted at Denise's blog. As usual, it is FULL of "yummy" math posts! Go check it out.

I especially enjoyed using the "parrot-talk" in math class, and Fawn taking a textbook problem and making it into an open-ended activity -- her students struggled and learned a lot!

I'm just posting this flyer that was sent to me about the Elements of Mathematics course. This is not paid advertising; I am doing this for them for free, because I believe it is not easy for them to find their "target audience" - gifted middle school children that are very interested in mathematics.

Math Mammoth May sale is here!

Get *25% off* of ALL Math Mammoth downloads and CDs at Kagi store with coupon code MAY2013.

The sale starts NOW and runs till the end of May (May 31).

This includes all Math Mammoth & Make It Real Learning downloads CD products at Kagi, including the already discounted bundles!

You can go to MathMammoth.com first, then find the links to Kagi's order pages there. Or, you can use these direct links to the order pages:

• Light Blue series (complete curriculum)
• Blue series
• Golden and Green Series
• Make It Real Learning activity workbooks.
• Bundles (CDs or downloads).

From today, May 13, till May 31! Use coupon code MAY2013, and get 25% off!

Factorization forest game

Here is a neat factoring game I found online: Factorization Forest

You pick among six different types of seeds given. Then, you have to factorize a number to its prime factors, and the game then lets you grow a tree and place it into your “forest”. You can change the size of the tree and move it around.

Then just grow another tree by factoring another number! You can do it for as long as you want. Great fun! My daughter really liked it, and has made several "forests." I basically replaced the practice problems about prime factorization in  her math book with this game.

Here are four screenshots from the game:

A FREE science class

You've probably heard me talk about the Supercharged Science curriculum before - it is a great science curriculum, and I use it with my own kids.

Today I have something to tell you I think you will appreciate! Aurora, the owner, is doing a free online science class TOMORROW, Wednesday.

You can reserve a free spot by clicking here:
www.sciencelearningspace.com/members/go.php?r=3095&i=l25

She's done these classes several times before (as you may know :) ), and my kids have really enjoyed them. She's warm and engaging - and knows her science.

Kids not only learn solid academics, but get to do hands-on activities during the class. (How? You prepare the materials before the class, and during it, she gives you 5-10 minutes to do a certain activity, then discusses it.) 

This week's topic is Rocketry and Spaceflight. This is really appropriate because Aurora actually used to work for NASA, and is a real rocket scientist!

If you've never experienced Aurora in action, you need to sign up for this class and try it out!

It is also great for parents who don't like teaching science -- because she does it for you, and kids stay engaged!

Reserve your free spot now by clicking here:
www.sciencelearningspace.com/members/go.php?r=3095&i=l25

Remember, it's tomorrow. Enjoy!

Where do you need square roots? Or algebra?

If you have taught math any length of time, I'm sure you have encountered the question, "Where do I ever need this?"

I've updated an article of mine on this topic. It specifically uses the example of where students might need the idea or concept of square root.

Where do you need math, square roots, or algebra?

The article also lists several resources that are designed to help students understand where math is needed in real-life.

Enjoy!

Math Mammoth on sale on Educents

Educents is a fairly new site that runs special deals for educational products.

You can now get certain Math Mammoth bundles on Educents for 30% off! This deal runs till Monday, May 13.

The bundles included in the deal (as downloads) are the Light Blue Series, Blue Series, and All Inclusive.

Filling in the gaps with Math Mammoth - testimonial

I just wanted to share this testimonial that Lisa K. sent in a few days ago. I find this situation is fairly common among children who come from public school and start Math Mammoth - they are behind in math, sometimes very much so (many grade levels). Yet, it's not a time to despair, because it IS possible to catch up!

It is often necessary to go back and make sure all the basics are mastered. Then, the child often progresses at a much faster pace, and within a few years they usually attain grade level.

The idea is not to have a race to keep up with public school, but to gain a solid  understanding of math for life.

Here's Lisa's comment. Her daughter still has some more catching up to do, but she's progressing at a good pace!

Maria,

I just have to thank you for your wonderful math program. I emailed you late last summer about my 6th grade daughter who was terribly behind in math. You suggested I start her back in the grade 1 book to give her a fresh and solid start. I did and she has done great! She has completed both first grade books, both second grade books and has now started the multiplication "theme" books (I decided to just do multiplication because most of the other things in the 3rd grade book she already knows). I can't believe she's flown through 2 grade levels and is starting a third in less than one school year. She still does not love math, but she is doing well and has built some confidence. Your method for learning multiplication tables is terrific. She's learned 2, 4, 3, 5, 10, 11 in about 3 weeks!

I love that you focus, not just on learning the facts, but on understanding the concepts. Not just "this works", but "this is why this works". Many programs don't do that; it's just rote memorization which is partly why Grace got so behind. She never understood why she was carrying (for instance), she just did it. Now that it makes sense, it's really sticking with her.

I'm using your program with my other younger children, too, and am just as happy. Also, it's so easy for me to use. Almost no prep time and free worksheets when they need a little extra help or some review!

Thank you again and again for your wonderful program!
Blessings,
Lisa

My Dear Aunt Sally - game for order of operations

You've surely heard of the acronym PEMDAS for the order of operations (Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally) - standing for Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication & Division, Addition & Subtraction.

There's a new game for order of operations called My Dear Aunt Sally. You can play it free online, or purchase an inexpensive app for your tablet.

It's a very good game, and takes some thinking! You need to place the given numbers into two expressions so that the operations make the two expressions have the same value.

Here are some screenshots. The first one is the easiest level. The addition on the top has to have the same value as the multiplication/addition expression on the bottom.

 It gets harder if you choose to include exponents:

You can also choose to use fractions, so it becomes harder yet:

Mathematically Correct Bagel

Some 3-d geometry and knife, and your breakfast bagel will turn into a two-twist Möbius strip!


Bagel by George Hart