What is Math Anyway?

by | May 9, 2011 | Interviews & Podcasts, Videos | 19 comments

I thought many of you would enjoy this brief clip of Latin, physics and math teacher, Bill Carey.  Bill taught Latin, physics and calculus to students at Ad Fontes Academy in Virginia for five years.  He participated in last summer’s Lyceum on Math and Science (sponsored by the Institute for Classical Schools) and has thought deeply about how math should be taught in classical Christian schools (or anywhere really).  He is not a fan of “cookbook” math, as this brief clip will show.  If you enjoy this, let me know and I will post additional video of Bill on this topic.

19 Comments

  2. Christie
    Christie on May 9, 2011 at 2:37 pm

    This is wonderful! Please post more!

  3. Holly
    Holly on May 9, 2011 at 2:44 pm

    I think it’s great and would love to see more!

  4. Mrs.Logan
    Mrs.Logan on May 9, 2011 at 2:57 pm

    I would like to hear alot more about this. I have a highly gifted student and really need a better approach to math.

    thanks

  7. Ravi Jain
    Ravi Jain on May 9, 2011 at 5:04 pm

    Great job. I always appreciate William’s emphasis on an inductive and creative approach to mathematics. Nicely done.

  8. Michelle Grazor
    Michelle Grazor on May 9, 2011 at 6:05 pm

    Yes, please post more. Thank you.

  12. Joan
    Joan on May 11, 2011 at 9:17 pm

    …and our next step is? I would love to learn more.

  14. Marty
    Marty on June 22, 2011 at 11:06 am

    Loved the point about the similarity of textbooks top to bottom. I’ve been thinking a lot about these kind of changes, and would love to hear more of his thoughts.

    One question for math teacher or headmaster that I’ve been grappling with: would you endorse a math program that embodied the principles in this video, but *did not* produce good SAT scores? Sure they could be compatible, but what if they are not? Its easy for me to answer for myself as a math teacher, but I’m not trying to run a school either.

  15. Meg
    Meg on June 22, 2011 at 11:37 am

    I am interested in hearing what else he has to say. Please post more.

  17. Laura
    Laura on September 18, 2011 at 2:36 pm

    This is wonderful. Of course we want our kids to learn math, but I also want my kids to explore math. When they see something new, I want them to be able to think it through and know what math to use to solve it. I want them to learn how to think; not what to think. If there is more video available, I would very much like to see what else this young man has to say. Also, as the other poster asked: Is there a math curriculum that teaches math this way? or close to it. If there is not, what would be some suggestions of how to approach math? Thank you!!

  18. Bonita
    Bonita on February 17, 2012 at 6:02 pm

    I am very intrigued!! I want to hear more of what he has to say and how he approaches higher level mathematics in his classroom. I agree with all he has said thus far and am excited to hear more from someone who sees the world through a similar lens as I.

  19. Anne W
    Anne W on February 20, 2013 at 10:40 am

    Yes!!! Especially for students heading into fields such as engineering and sciences that require higher levels of math, it is essential that they learn to do more than simply solve problems according to rote formulae. And the curricula that we use beginning in the earliest grades makes a huge difference in whether our children will be able to do this or not. I would love to hear more from Mr. Carey!

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