You’re here, so you must be a grownup and you must have some curiosity about math. Maybe you are a real, live math geek, who wants to see how I might screw up, water down or otherwise make a mess of the Queen of the Sciences.*
Or perhaps a friend said, “You should check out this site because this girl is plain crazy. She thinks anyone can do math. She clearly hasn’t met you or me yet!”
Or did you find this blog by googling a math concept so that you could help your kid with his homework?
It doesn’t matter to me why you’re here, but let’s get a few things straight:
- I’m not a pure mathematician. I got my degree in math education and taught high school for four years. I will make mistakes, and anyone is free to point them out. Just be nice.
- Yeah, I am that girl who is convinced anyone can do math. You’re not stupid and neither is the friend who sent you here. My premise is simple — you can do math, and you might even learn to love it but you don’t have to. (At the very least, you’ll be darned proud of yourself.)
- I’m interested in addressing everyday math problems, not homework. So if you plan to contact me for help with your Algebra II assignments, think again. You might find some of my posts provide homework help, but that’s not the point.**
I am a self-proclaimed math evangelist. I reject the idea that you are not good at math. Did you embrace that label? Quite possibly. Did you forget the tools that you need to do the basic math required to get through the day? It’s likely. Are you afraid of math? Maybe. Can you overcome all of these challenges? Abso-tootin’-lutely.
So hang on for the ride. Send me some questions. Try out the math. And of course take a peek at my book. Just ask your local, independent bookstore to carry it or visit one of these vendors:
*For the uninitiated: Math is the Queen of the Sciences. It’s the language that helps us explore the world scientifically. All hail the Queen!
**I’d love to write a book and start a blog just for parents who don’t understand what Ms. Bloom is trying to teach their dear son or dear daughter. But that’s for another day. (By the way, you’re not crazy. Math is being taught differently, but it’s a good thing.)
I LOVED my daughters 4th grade math teacher because I didn’t get the email about changing the names of everything I learned in 4th grade and she laughed with me as I said “that’s not what they called it when I was in 4th grade!” She’s very young, very hip, very parent friendly and so aware that not every child learns the same way. There were several times when I made an appointment for a conference after school because my child came home speaking “math” and I needed a translator. I have a HUGE admiration for teachers because it is one of the hardest jobs on earth.