by MathPickle | Sep 2, 2015 | Pickle Opinion
I am most impressed with the advice of the Julia Robinson Mathematics Festival to the volunteers who come to people its tables: Be as unhelpful as possible. Joshua Zucker Director, Julia Robinson Mathematics Festival This is marvellous advice for educators and parents...
by MathPickle | Sep 2, 2015 | Pickle Opinion |
Why do we allow students to work in pencil? Sometimes we do it because we want them to erase their mistakes. If done to excess, this is wrong. Mistakes are there to learn from – not to be erased or scribbled out. They should be artfully identified so...
by MathPickle | Sep 2, 2015 | Pickle Opinion
Speed is essential, but some curricula value it too much. The core of every mathematics classroom should be problem solving. Ponderous problem solvers need to be protected. I am not making the case against memorizing basic facts. Students absolutely need to memorize...
by MathPickle | Aug 18, 2015 | Teaching Technique Discussion
We should abolish the subject of mathematics in elementary school. Why? Because “mathematics” has become synonymous with arithmetic for many educators and parents. Problem solving, which should be at the heart of the classroom experience of mathematics is...
by MathPickle | Aug 10, 2015 | Pickle Opinion
I’m agnostic when it comes to computer games. On the negative side: 1) Too many students already have too much screen time at home – the last thing this subset of students need is to have screen time in school. 2) Quality control is lacking. On the...