Build Math Confidence August 2022 Volume 159
Upcoming Math Education Events
Four Thousand Weeks
"The average human lifespan (of four thousand weeks) is absurdly, insultingly brief".
Rather than a typical time management strategy of productivity, Burkeman provides "tools for constructing a meaningful life by embracing finitude" and shows "unhelpful ways we've come to think about time" so that we can do things differently.
In the appendix, Burkeman shares "Ten Tools for Embracing Your Finitude" including "Seek out novelty in the mundane, "Cultivate instantaneous gratitude" and "Practice doing nothing."
Rethinking Math Education
Inspired by the California Mathematics Framework Revision, Education Next provides two perspectives on Math Education.
One promotes a newer approach of Statistics and Data Analytics rather than the Algebra/Calculus pathway: Every Student Needs 21st Century Data-Literacy Skills by Freakonomics author Steven Levitt and Jeffrey Severts.
The other is a strong vote for Calculus as it prepares students for a college STEM pathway: Data Science is No Panacea for High School Math Education by Adrian Mims and Boaz Barak of The Calculus Project
Homework Yay or Nay?
Should students receive homework assignments? This Opinion piece The Movement to End Homework Is Wrong links to You Need to Be More Responsible by multiple authors including Ilana Horn.
This Fall will be my 21st year teaching at the College of Mount Saint Vincent and I have still not figured out my homework policy. If I don't give any homework, students will not see any Math in between our sessions (up to 5 days!). If homework is assigned, I do not have any way to know who is doing it and who is copying!
At the K-12 level, homework can be an opportunity for families to help their students if and only if they have the time/knowhow/language etc. But homework is forward facing as it can show families what they students are learning as Horn mentions "Schools that do successfully eliminate homework may need to find other ways to signal curriculum rigor and communicate with families about what students are learning."
Brain Puzzler
You'd like to cut a circular cake with six straight cuts. What is the maximum number of pieces you can create? They can be different sizes but cannot be moved around (and the cake is only one layer).
Answer to July's Brain Puzzler: 16 pieces click here for the solution 
Thanks, Robin the Math Lady Schwartz