2018 Brings New Mathematics Challenges
I Love Math season has begun again. Mustard Seed School's I Love Math celebration has evolved over the years, growing from a one day event to a multi-week season. The logic of the evolution goes like this:
1. We should take a day to celebrate our love of math. (circa 2007, a one day thing)
2. However, it should not be abstract. It should not be theoretical.
3. This day should celebrate real, substantial mathematical work.
4. And for students these ages, it should celebrate their excellent work (not someone else's).
Two excellent slides prepared by an eighth grade team.
5. We need to support students in producing some great work worthy of celebration.
6. One day is not enough. We need a few weeks to produce excellent mathematics.
7. Which brings us to 2018. The I Love Math celebration at Mustard Seed is now a multi-week season, during which students do all the things mathematicians do and grow in their love of math.
One slide from an 8th grade PowerPoint on Circling The Earth.
During these weeks, we ask students to solve highly challenging problems, working in teams. Each one is designed to take about a week. Teams are asked to turn in submissions to show their thinking and explain their solutions. Large amounts of persistence and creativity are required. This is a wonderful season in which to work on all these hopes and dreams for our students.
The illustrations in this post are examples of excellent mathematical work produced in recent years. These images are taken from student submissions, just like the ones students are creating now for 2018.
One slide from an 8th grade team solving The Very Fine Thread problem.
Please visit the I Love Math blog to see the problems students are working on now: I Love Math MSS blog Hopefully, the problems will prompt some conversations with parents, siblings, friends and others. We all love math! Enjoy!
Mr. L
1. We should take a day to celebrate our love of math. (circa 2007, a one day thing)
2. However, it should not be abstract. It should not be theoretical.
3. This day should celebrate real, substantial mathematical work.
4. And for students these ages, it should celebrate their excellent work (not someone else's).
Two excellent slides prepared by an eighth grade team.
5. We need to support students in producing some great work worthy of celebration.
6. One day is not enough. We need a few weeks to produce excellent mathematics.
7. Which brings us to 2018. The I Love Math celebration at Mustard Seed is now a multi-week season, during which students do all the things mathematicians do and grow in their love of math.
One slide from an 8th grade PowerPoint on Circling The Earth.
During these weeks, we ask students to solve highly challenging problems, working in teams. Each one is designed to take about a week. Teams are asked to turn in submissions to show their thinking and explain their solutions. Large amounts of persistence and creativity are required. This is a wonderful season in which to work on all these hopes and dreams for our students.
The illustrations in this post are examples of excellent mathematical work produced in recent years. These images are taken from student submissions, just like the ones students are creating now for 2018.
One slide from an 8th grade team solving The Very Fine Thread problem.
Please visit the I Love Math blog to see the problems students are working on now: I Love Math MSS blog Hopefully, the problems will prompt some conversations with parents, siblings, friends and others. We all love math! Enjoy!
Mr. L