/r/matheducation
/r/matheducation is for discussions of math teaching and pedagogy.
r/matheducation is focused on mathematics pedagogy (the teaching of). Please avoid posts that are related to homework or other "How do I solve this?" type questions. There should be an emphasis on usefulness (such as good internet resources or ideas for how to teach a concept).
Note: This is not a subreddit to self-promote your blog, website, or YouTube channel, but rather to point out resources you've found that you could actually see bringing something useful to the art of math teaching.
Just explaining a single math concept isn't a good fit here, but something that explains an innovative way to teach a concept to others is fine.
The guiding principle for content here should be: is this something related to the teaching of mathematical concepts?
Related reddits:
/r/matheducation
Hi, I have an important presentation coming up and I'm practicing for it.
I could really use someone (outsider to the topic but with math background) to lend me an ear and give me feedback /impression.
The topic is on proving "non standard" inequalities
My part is < 10 min and I'd like 1-3 people available for a short zoom meet this Monday 11 am est.
Thank you very much in advance.
I have a math tutee, in 9th grade algebra. He struggles with certain kinds of patterns. For instance, right now they are doing things like adding polynomials and simplifying exponential expressions. These patterns show all the different ways you combine exponents and constants.
(For instance when you add polynomials, you add the coefficients, but the exponents stay the same. When you multiply monomials, you multiply the constants, but you add the exponents. When you take a monomial to a certain power, you multiply the exponents. Etc. )
So he really has trouble keeping track of these things. What is surprising to me is that we can do several of the same kind of problem, and he can seem to be confident. Then we briefly switch to a slightly different problem, and he's completely confused even though he's seen it a million times before. Then we switch back after no more than two minutes to what he was confident on, and he's confused again or even confidently answers it wrongly.
He's really good with numbers so my first impression wasn't dyscalculia. Could it be another learning disability?
I'll say it might be a general problem in executive functioning - that is, trouble with all the following:
EDIT: Here's some more information on the learning disability angle:
The reason I suspect that it's an executive functioning thing is that even in the simplest things, he can't follow directions. For example I wrote out a procedure for him to follow, a general procedure that starts by just identifying what he's looking at in the problem (is this multiplication or addition, for instance) and he can't follow it. It's a 4 step procedure. He can follow it if I slow him down and guide him through it, but even after I guide him 20 times, he can't follow it himself. What he tends to do is either forget that it's there (even after we've just done it 10 times) or he jumps around from step to step or skips steps. He doesn't really hear me when I speak and can barely follow verbal directions as well as written directions.
I'm just wondering if this situation might have a name. Yes we need to get his parents to take him to a professional and develop an IEP.
I think it's partly a "school trauma" thing. He has so many negative associations to school and math in particular. At the bottom of it, he might not even have a learning disability. He might just have had very bad teaching/parenting so far. I don't know if this has a name.
Not sure if it fits the rules. But I think beast academy is great and not sure if there is something similar for English/language for young kids
These guys https://www.computerbasedmath.org/
write here https://www.computerbasedmath.org/case-for-computer-based-math-education.php#
Before mechanised computing, the use of mathematics above very basic arithmetic was much narrower and only applicable to fields such as some areas of physics and accountancy.
I seem to remember there were several centuries of high level Math before mechanised computing, way beyond some areas of physics and accountancy.
Geometry, to say the least...
What do you think of that sentence ?
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I like watching entertaining math videos like Steve Mould or Stand Up Maths on Youtube.
My wife runs a science club after school for elementary aged kids (a variety from K-5). She finds science adjacent meterial for half a dozen hour long sessions.
I would enjoy getting involved and doing something similar, or maybe just enough material for one session, but specifically relating math to real world examples.
The math in these YT videos is too advanced for even most 5th graders. Is there a place with interesting marh stories and material that would demonstrate easier math and tie it into interesting real world examples?
I'm not going to make the kids do problems. I wouldn't want to scare the youngest kids with complex formulas or anything. So it really needs to be interesting/fun enough for the older kids. While also being simple enough for the younger kids.
I really want to find a newspaper article or something where they take data and find a linear regression and talk about what the slope and y- intercept mean (like "as you can see from this graph, there were only 130 wild wolves in 1950 but they've been increasing at a rate of 10 per year since"). I know there's tons of real life applications of linear equations but I want one from a newspaper to prove to my students that real people use this concept.
Hello I teach first grade at a smaller private school. This private school has quite a bit of schedule inconsistencies. On Monday’s we have church from 8-8:50 Wednesday we have a 30 min delay and Fridays we have a “teachings with father.” Because of this there is very little wiggle room in the schedule. I have been talked to about doing small math groups on top of reading groups, residing instruction, Accelerated Reading test (almost ever day for each student), religion, and science/social studies. I have pushed math small groups off this long and will most likely have to start them after Christmas break. However, I don’t understand how I should do this. I just barely got my small groups down. So, to go through that process again absolutely stresses me out. How I have seen some teachers do theirs is by having student complete independent work while calling groups back. The issue here is that I would need to create at level independent work for my students that match up with our lesson. The bunch of kiddos I have are not independent. I’ve tried my best in creating independence but it seems like I am falling short in that. Another issue I have is how long should each group be? Do I need to carve out an hour or more for this? Is it 30 minutes? How do you make sure every student is on track?
I’m not sure if any of this even remotely makes since or is understandable. If any of this is something you have mastered and feel like you can direct me through my confusing I would greatly appreciate it!
Our daughter loves math, and without boring you all, is not getting enough of it at school. The work they're doing in her normal class she was doing with us 3 years ago (adding double digits for example). And in her 'gifted' pull out class they are apparently not focusing on STEM and more on English, and creative learning.
I'm sure there's a reason for that, so I won't lament it too much here.
We have a Math tutor for an hour a week and the goal there is just to introduce her to new number concepts and get her brain going. She absolutely loves it.
So we feel like we're missing a real opportunity to nurture something in her. We have tried study books for the grades above her, but they are very dry. She has Khan academy, which is ok. We are looking at STEM charter schools, but they all start at 6th grade.
What other options can we look into? What am I missing? I have tried to work with her, but she responds a lot better when it's not a parent for sure.
Thanks!
Just finished the book and it is an amazing read. I loved many of the things he has said in the book and I am trying to implement what I can. It feels botched as I am trying to fit the puzzle pieces.
Time is my only worry when teaching. I do not know how he does the things he does within a 50-ish minute period. How have you guys implemented it? Or what do you disagree with and recommend people avoid?
Has anyone seen online Math education done well? Any good apps or websites that I should be using with high schoolers? So far everything I've seen has just been static exam prep questions or very basic quiz style platforms. I'm wondering if there's anything that is personalised to the learner and engaging?
Hi everyone! I got accepted to a CUNY Mathematics Education MS Program that I intend to accept. I've been thinking a bit about my future goals though and I am not sure I want to be a teacher forever. Are there other careers I can pursue with this degree should I decide to change careers? I saw some posts about data scientists/analysts. Would this degree be valuable?
Thanks in advance!
On Facebook there's a big fight over the correct solution to this math problem: 3 x 3 - 3 ÷ 3 + 3
I got (9) - (1) + 3 which comes to 11 using the old PEMDAS system. But there's argument that the answer should be 5 somehow. And a few other answers beside 11 and 5.
Common core math sucks. Bridge math sucks. I don't know what other systems have been pushed out but they also sucks.
At this rate, we might as well get a dart board and wherever the dart lands has to be the right answer. (if the dart falls off right after landing, assume zero is the right answer)
Why must the school push for alternative math that supposedly makes it easier for kids to jump up to more advanced subject sooner but often produces incorrect answers if you used a calculator (either a $5 Walmart special or a $150 high end TI model)?? Even Google says 11 is the right answer from the equation in the first paragraph
Hey everyone,
For a few years now, I have been trying to figure out Math.
One of my main insights has been:
-Spatial Skills are not a single or small group of skills. But rather it seems to be an "umbrella term" for multiple different skills. For example, drawing objects, drawing objects with the right dimension, and "reasoning" about the objects size.
I could go on and on. However, it seems to me that when laypeople and academics talk about Spatial skills they are using a blanket term to describe a range of different skills. For instance, I have heard people talk about reading maps as requiring Spatial skills but also walking down the street as also requiring spatial skills.
I believe that some people can be stronger in some Spatial Skills while weaker in others. For instance, it might be possible that person X might be good at mathematics but lousy at finding his way around town. While they are related skills it doesn't mean that because someone is good at one then they are immediately good at the other. You need to practice the specific skill to get better at it.
Elementary Mathematics
Now that I have been studying Elementary Math closely. I have come to realize that Spatial Skills are a component of Elementary Math, however, not the main component. For instance, in Arithmetic you can solve a addition or subtraction problem by closely reading the text. And then manipulating the number symbols.
We are now available on Google Play Store.
You can find zero to hero math exercises including Arithmetic to Calculus and Linear algebra
You can download on
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.entusia.entusia
Enjoy
I’m a new high-school teacher in the US, and I’ve been trying to find resources that teach math skills in the context of real problems that also teach life skills, like excel formats and critical thinking through logic and reasoning. I’ve heard of Singapore math, but can’t find a good way to experience or learn about this style.
Anyone have any recommendations for a book that could conceivably be used well for both on-level and honors Algebra 2? We've book using different textbooks and it's caused a bit of a headache when students drop down to on-level after a couple weeks in honors. Plus, we're looking to "beef up" our on-level a bit and perhaps a somewhat more rigorous textbook would do well. Would need something that covers the algebra portion as well as basic trig! (through basic unit circle stuff) Thanks!
Mathematics tutor needed for kid online training or in person , In INDIA
Dm me with price details
I am an undergraduate student looking into graduate schools that I will possibly apply to. The University of Wisconsin-Madison seems like a school I might be interested in applying. Are there any graduate students who attend or have attended this university that can give some insight into what the math graduate program is like? Are the instructors good teachers or are they hard to learn from? Are there good advisors? Is there program more applied or pure math focused? Thank you!
Hello everyone,
I'm a fellow high school math teacher. I'm having a hard time finding a platform that enables me to give students more practice problems that also provides feedback (e.g. a solution to the problem). I currently use DeltaMath and Edia (the former more than the latter) but they have limitations with respect to user customization as well as other things e.g. Edia is buggy. Without getting into details, I am looking for something better. Any ideas?
Otherwise, I'm getting to the point were I'm willing to learn the necessary programming skills to build my own platform.
I am a student teacher and I have one last observation. The class I am teaching is a sophomore geometry class. They just learned how to factor trinomials using the box method. They also learned how to factor difference of squares, and factoring out the gcf. That’s pretty much it for this unit. I have one last lesson that will be observed. It can either be review, have them factor equations where the leading coefficient is not 1, or teaching them how to factor with algebra tiles. During my last observation my supervisor repeatedly told me he wanted to see more engagement and participation. Do any teachers have any advice on a lesson I could possibly do to improve this area?
Hi all— algebra 1 and algebraic reasoning teacher here. I’m in the state of Texas. Some of my Algebraic Reasoning (failed algebra 1 or failed the algebra 1 STAAR test or both) will be re-taking the STAAR test next month. Even after they pass, they must stay in my class for second semester. Any ideas for what I can do for semester 2 that will still help them build their skills for the next level (geometry), but won’t feel like they are just repeating Algebra 1? I want it to be engaging but not overkill. Let me know your thoughts!