Beautiful Math

Reflective Writing Edition Two

Val des Monts, Quebec - October 4, 2019


AN EMERGING PERSPECTIVE ON MATH 1

 My Experience with Math
I was taught to memorize math facts, sit quietly and practice practice practice until I got
it right. Accept I didn’t usually “GET IT” at all and there was no positive outcome for
making mistakes. Frankly the mistakes and bad grades completely deterred me from taking
any math courses beyond grade 10 and ultimately instilled a personal fear and stress of
numbers and equations. I survived university statistics courses but only because they were
mandatory for the completion of my degrees. Math with its formulas, symbols and theory’s
was intentionally left behind me NEVER to be faced again. Or at least that’s what I thought.

On September 3, 2019 I began a new life’s journey at the University of Ottawa and it
was terrifying - new people, new places, new technology and new expectations. The first
week of the Bachelor of Education program my heart was racing with anxiety and it wasn’t
from the new exercise routine of biking to school! When I arrived for my first PED3152 class
an absolute nervous panic was my greeting when I read the following math problem on the
blackboard: “Four 4’s. Use exactly four 4’s to form every integer from 0 to 20 use only the
operators +, -, x, /, brackets (), decimal points, x2 (square) and factorial!.” Instinctively I
froze! Think, think think….What’s an integer? What’s a factorial? What’s the order of
operations for a math equation? I stayed in my seat that day, sat quietly hiding and didn’t
even try! When I picked up my kids later that day I asked my daughter Eden “What’s a
factorial”? She’s a gracious teacher and gave me an explanation. After that initial panic
settled I decided that if I was going to become a TEACHER I needed to shift from my fixed
mindset of “I can’t do math, it’s terrifying” to a growth mindset of “I will be brave and try”.
Within the last 32 days I have learned some mind changing ideas about math.

Some of my favourites have been:

1. Mathematics is a communication art skill (Kelly, 2019. Lecture One).
This approach of communicating to learn math changed my perspective from sit quietly
and work out this math problem alone to collaborate and talk through this math problem
with your peers. This teaching strategy feels so much more inviting and encouraging.
2. All students can learn mathematics to high levels with good teaching experiences
(Boaler, 2015. What’s Math Got to Do with It? pg. xvii).
3. When students make a mistake in math, their brain grows, synapses fire, and
connections are made (Boaler, 2015. What’s math Got to Do with It? pg. xix)

AN EMERGING PERSPECTIVE ON MATH 2

 These statement were original and new to me and I thought only “math brain” people
were good at math and making mistakes was frowned upon and bad! Making error’s is
inevitable in any discipline and I feel more confident to give math a try when I am allowed to
learn from my mistakes.
4. Mathematics is all about illuminating relationships found in shapes and nature
(Boaler, 2015. What’s Math Got to Do with It?”pg.18)
The concept of math in nature is absolutely fascinating and real to me. I can make
personal connections to this idea because of my academic background in environmental
studies and my love of nature. I have developed an enthusiasm for finding the Fibonacci
sequence, symmetry and patterns in nature. Teaching math with links to nature would be an
amazing opportunity.

5. A productive struggle + an A-Ha Moment can completely shift someone’s

confidence in Math (Kelly, 2019. Lecture Four).
A lack of confidence is personally and academically damaging to a child. I have felt the
effects of this but I have also experienced positive struggle and I GET IT moments - building
blocks for instilling courage and determination to keep trying.

I am forming a positive perspective with Math learning and teaching. I have shifted a
negative fixed mindset to a positive growth mindset and recognize and appreciate that math
surrounds us in nature, at school, in our homes and cities - MATH is EVERYWHERE and I
am happy that it is.

AN EMERGING PERSPECTIVE ON MATH 3

 References

Boeler, Jo. 2015. What’s Math Got To Do With It? (revised edition). Penguin Books.

McKie, Kelly. 2019. PED3152 Enhancing Mathematics and Science Thinking Lectures.

AN EMERGING PERSPECTIVE ON MATH 4