My math teachers in 6-12 grades, while good people, taught marh in the abstract. It was just learn this concept, run the equation, get the result. Maybe plot it on graph paper.
There was never any “why are we doing this”? What real world problem can we solve by doing this math?
So I struggled with math in school. Most of my math skills I learned, on my own, as an adult.
Model rocketry gives a kid a reason to learn the math. Usually a fun reason. Which rocket went higher, yours or mine? Well, if we knew a little basic trigonometry, we could find out!
That gives the math a purpose and a fun reason to learn it. If math had been taught to me that way, I would have enjoyed it more and gotten better grades in it.
I can’t be the only person who feels this way. Is there an organization or movement I can join to promote teaching math this way?
There was never any “why are we doing this”? What real world problem can we solve by doing this math?
So I struggled with math in school. Most of my math skills I learned, on my own, as an adult.
Model rocketry gives a kid a reason to learn the math. Usually a fun reason. Which rocket went higher, yours or mine? Well, if we knew a little basic trigonometry, we could find out!
That gives the math a purpose and a fun reason to learn it. If math had been taught to me that way, I would have enjoyed it more and gotten better grades in it.
I can’t be the only person who feels this way. Is there an organization or movement I can join to promote teaching math this way?