It has been far too long since I have written a substantial post, and since I am in the middle of report cards, I will not be writing an essay. I have many posts in my head right now, but those are for next week when I have time. I do feel, however, as though I need to get another thought out of my head. Every math teacher has been asked "When will I ever use this in the real world?" I remember asking the same question to my grade nine teacher, and now that I am a math teacher, I obviously think differently. This is the conclusion I have come up with.
Wrong Question Kiddo
I have been trying to think why I have such a love of math and students have such a hate. Why do they not see all the beautiful connections, and why can I see them? Then it dawned on me. I learned to ask a new question. I no longer look at math and ask "How can I use this?" I now look at the world and ask "How can I use math?" The difference is subtle, but I think it is the difference between a student who does math and a student who is in math class. We only develop a language to describe and communicate the world around us; why do we try to learn math any differently?
Wrong Question Kiddo
I have been trying to think why I have such a love of math and students have such a hate. Why do they not see all the beautiful connections, and why can I see them? Then it dawned on me. I learned to ask a new question. I no longer look at math and ask "How can I use this?" I now look at the world and ask "How can I use math?" The difference is subtle, but I think it is the difference between a student who does math and a student who is in math class. We only develop a language to describe and communicate the world around us; why do we try to learn math any differently?
