I've been known to argue that computer programming (a.k.a. "coding") is a new literacy. In this post, I'll try to clarify why, and discuss some implications. First, let's define our terms. On what grounds can school subjects be classified as a kind of literacy? I can think of two criteria. * The first criterion is… Continue reading Literacies
Tag: Teaching
How To
I am often asked "what is the best way to teach equation solving?" (or graphing, or factoring, etc.) Conversely, teachers often want to share with me what they deem the best way to teach students how to do certain things. These conversations are based on a widely-held belief that our job as math teachers is… Continue reading How To
Embracing Opposites
A couple of years ago on this blog, I summarized "Embracing Contraries in the Teaching Process", an important article by English professor Peter Elbow. His key point was that there is a tension between our obligation to our students, on the one hand, and our obligation to our discipline, on the other. In many ways,… Continue reading Embracing Opposites
The Dark Side of Learning Styles
In my previous post, I stated that my teaching would not be affected by the discovery that the learning styles theory is not supported by the evidence. In a comment, I added: "The most toxic impact of [learning styles] is that some students are convinced they can only learn visually, or kinesthetically, or whatever. This… Continue reading The Dark Side of Learning Styles
Learning Styles, Teaching Styles
Over the years, many students, and a few teachers, have told me about what they consider their learning style, or in some cases, their learning differences. Meanwhile, over the years, I have been promoting what I call a tool-rich pedagogy, arguing that it helps reach students who have various learning styles.And now I'm told that… Continue reading Learning Styles, Teaching Styles
First Day of School
For most of you, school started recently, or will start soon. For me, this is the beginning of the third year of my retirement, and I'm starting to get used to the weirdness of my new life.It turns out that August is by far the most intense work month for me, because that's when I… Continue reading First Day of School
Themed courses?
This is the third in a series of summer posts on big-picture planning for a math department. Previous installments: Pruning the Curriculum, and Mapping Out a Course. Today's post represents a further zooming out, to discuss my thoughts about how to organize content across courses. Of course, many if not most teachers are not consulted… Continue reading Themed courses?
About Hints, the sequel
A few weeks ago, I wrote about the use of hints in the math classroom. I just reread that post, and stand by what I wrote. I admit that my very last sentence (in the PS) was perhaps a bit snarky, and I'll try to elaborate on it in this post.What is prompting me to… Continue reading About Hints, the sequel
Constant Sums, Constant Products
I just cleaned up an existing page on my Web site: Constant Sums, Constant Products, "an untraditional approach to traditional topics". This is a mega-unit, spanning content from middle school, all the way to what one might call "teachers' mathematics." Take a look at it on a summer day when you have a little time… Continue reading Constant Sums, Constant Products
Mapping Out a Course
A correspondent writes (I added the links): Our district is looking at revamping our year map and I would like to suggest a map that has the qualities of Algebra: Themes, Tools, Concepts (ATTC): particularly its ‘integratedness’ and how well it spirals through the topics. I’ve read on your blog about separating topics and lagging… Continue reading Mapping Out a Course
