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Hidden Mathematicians

Math belongs to all of us. Anyone can be a mathematician. Unfortunately, many faces in history go unacknowledged and what we are learning in the math classroom can be biased.

For example, a quick Google search can tell us that even though we call it “Pascal’s Triangle,” the Chinese created this triangle centuries earlier, calling it “Yang Hui’s Triangle” but we do not acknowledge that in American classrooms.

As math teachers, It is our job to do some research and see whose voice we are leaving out in our math classroom. What I love about @DrKChilds is that he is educating us about a black mathematician for Black History Month.

We can only grow and get better by learning and acknowledging contributions that we might not have known about. @MrKitMath printed the posts out to share with his students.

If we want a diversity of our students to imagine themselves as mathematicians, we must  show our students that math is filled with a diverse field of mathematicians.

Howie Hua
@howie_hua

Ask Me Two Questions

It’s hard to get students to realize when they don’t understand something or when they are confused about new material. Finding a way to get inside a student’s head can be challenging for any teacher. The strategy of asking students “what questions do you have?” has led to some success, at least more success than “any questions?” that we used to all ask.

Enter Christina’s tweet:

You can read the entire thread here. Inside the thread you can see where Mr C (@TeachingisSTEM) said a colleague asks, “What’s tricky about this?” and Lori Owen (@mrsowenmaths) asks students, “Where may someone go wrong?.” Molly Fast (@sofastm) said she also likes to ask, “What would a confused student ask right now?.” As Mr C put it, asking questions like these “normalizes the challenge of learning.”

Amber Thienel
@amberthienel

Inspired Notes From the Editor

Hello Math Nerds! If you dig Howie’s post, you might enjoy Chrissy Newell’s (@MrsNewell22) project of inspiring girls (and all of us) by focusing on the valuable, and largely unrecognized, roles that women have played in the field of mathematics. Click on this link to find out more information. As a man, I’m proud to wear my shirt and have learned more about my own biases and blindspots by researching the phenomenal accomplishments and courageous lives these women gave to humanity.

Also, did you know that our own Howie Hua is giving the webinar this week? Check it out! I’ve heard Howie talk about some of these ideas in person. He’s an inspiring speaker, and I think your time is well spent listening to what he has to say as an presenter.

Speaking of presenters…

GMD is Looking for Presenters!

Do you know someone who you think should lead a GMD Webinar?

Did you see something amazing at a recent conference that needs to be shared?

At Global Math we are proud of our Webinars!  We appreciate all of our presenters and look forward to bringing you the best “PD Iin Your Pajamas” on the internet.  We’re always on the lookout for fresh faces and new ideas.

Please use this recommendation form to let us know who/what should be shared next!  We will take your recommendations and reach out to try to make it happen!

Stay nerdy my friends! Got something you think should go into the GMD Newsletter, hit my up on Twitter at @mathgeek76.

Chase Orton