The Math Kid
A collection of mathematical fascinations, not strictly limited to the subject itself but also people's interactions and interpretations. My curiosity for the subject is infinite, but I try to stay away from the sciences. The thrill lies in the purity, not the application.
Info on my icon can be found here.
NY Times: Is Algebra Necessary?
I’m a litle curious, what do you guys think about this article?
My point of view on this topic can be summed up by this xkcd comic:
As someone who’s taught high school algebra, I absolutely agree that the material is largely irrelevant for 95% of students. I’m a huge math nerd, and even I rarely find a use for algebra in my everyday activities. We come up with contrived examples and word problems and tell the kids “You’ll need this someday!,” but they know that’s not true. They become apathetic. It’s hard enough to keep their attention as is, but presenting them with material that is flat out useless to most of them is just painful. That’s one of the primary reasons I decided not to teach again next year. It’s a losing battle. Too much emphasis on standardized testing and not enough focus on critical reasoning skills essential to build life-long learners.
School of Tomorrow
May 5, 1958 edition of Arthur Radebaugh’s Sunday comic, Closer Than We Think
The most accurate drawing of what it’s like to be a math teacher.
I find myself doing this to my students.
About
Recreational mathematician and aspiring teacher. Grew up a math nerd and consider the subject a major part of my identity. Fascinated by just about everything. Here's hoping this blog will open me up to some more creative outlets. That might be good for me at this juncture in my life :)
