I’ve argued that doing mathematics is much more than just grading homework or completing workbook exercises. Instead, through
the Brownie Problem, I have illustrated that really doing math is like wrestling with a brain-teaser or creating a new dish. Real
mathematics involves imagination, questioning, testing, and exploring. Furthermore, authentic, deep-thinking problems permit a
variety of interpretations and approaches toward a solution.
We want our students to be able to do real math: to become creative problem-solvers and critical thinkers, to be engaged in inquiry,
and to have a thorough grasp of concepts. We need them to understand the whys, and not just the whats and hows. To do so, they
need to engage in actual mathematical inquiry. Borrowing a sports metaphor, students need to get in the game and play it as it is
meant to be played—not just do endless practice drills (or worksheets). They need to get into a real kitchen and invent something
new, not just play with an Easy Bake Oven. They need to write, themselves, and not just read what others have written.
The same should be said of our teachers. We want our teachers to be able to inspire our students, but since their own experiences
with math were probably uninspiring, they need a different kind of professional development. Professional learning experiences
cannot replicate outdated pedagogy, and professional learning—to be truly transformative—must be ongoing and lifelong. As there
are very few resources and little time within today’s schools (especially in under-supported districts like Philadelphia), professional
learning experiences need to be more readily integrated with teachers’ out-of-school intellectual and social lives. Most importantly,
like writing a poem, creating a painting, or baking a dessert, PD needs to be fun and active. Like being in a book group, or attending
a dinner party, it also needs to be a meaningful community experience.
Since 2006, MTCs have challenged the impoverished, bland, common perceptions of mathematics—that solving a math problem
simply involves following a prescribed set of steps and practicing these steps in an unthinking way, over and over. For the past three
years in Philadelphia, the PAMTC has also supported teachers in connecting their growing mathematical appreciation and
understanding to more effective pedagogical practices. It may be a vain, budding notion, but it is nonetheless our hope that when
asked what we do in our free time, we can proudly respond, “We discover mathematics”—and our students, their family members,
and our colleagues will all want to join us
I’ve argued that doing mathematics is much more than just grading homework or completing workbook exercises. Instead, throughthe Brownie Problem, I have illustrated that really doing math is like wrestling with a brain-teaser or creating a new dish. Realmathematics involves imagination, questioning, testing, and exploring. Furthermore, authentic, deep-thinking problems permit avariety of interpretations and approaches toward a solution.We want our students to be able to do real math: to become creative problem-solvers and critical thinkers, to be engaged in inquiry,and to have a thorough grasp of concepts. We need them to understand the whys, and not just the whats and hows. To do so, theyneed to engage in actual mathematical inquiry. Borrowing a sports metaphor, students need to get in the game and play it as it ismeant to be played—not just do endless practice drills (or worksheets). They need to get into a real kitchen and invent somethingnew, not just play with an Easy Bake Oven. They need to write, themselves, and not just read what others have written.The same should be said of our teachers. We want our teachers to be able to inspire our students, but since their own experienceswith math were probably uninspiring, they need a different kind of professional development. Professional learning experiencescannot replicate outdated pedagogy, and professional learning—to be truly transformative—must be ongoing and lifelong. As thereare very few resources and little time within today’s schools (especially in under-supported districts like Philadelphia), professionallearning experiences need to be more readily integrated with teachers’ out-of-school intellectual and social lives. Most importantly,like writing a poem, creating a painting, or baking a dessert, PD needs to be fun and active. Like being in a book group, or attendinga dinner party, it also needs to be a meaningful community experience.Since 2006, MTCs have challenged the impoverished, bland, common perceptions of mathematics—that solving a math problemsimply involves following a prescribed set of steps and practicing these steps in an unthinking way, over and over. For the past threeyears in Philadelphia, the PAMTC has also supported teachers in connecting their growing mathematical appreciation andunderstanding to more effective pedagogical practices. It may be a vain, budding notion, but it is nonetheless our hope that whenasked what we do in our free time, we can proudly respond, “We discover mathematics”—and our students, their family members,and our colleagues will all want to join us
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