No Problem

PUT TO THE TEST: Our routine this week has been unusual. The kids don't have any of their regular classes Monday - Thursday. Instead, they have been taking Washington State's standardized test.  Called "Smarter Balanced," it's actually four tests; two language arts, two math.

To help boost their brains before the test, the kids have been ingesting a small shot of caffeine in the form of Mountain Dew. Specifically, some crazy concoction called  Dew.S.A, a new flavor of Mountain Dew.

PROBLEMATIC: As we've been cramming on math this week to review concepts and and new to the kids, there have been some frustrations and protestations - and one BIG light bulb moment. 

Around our kitchen table, we try to approach math as a conversation - we see a "problem," and before we even put pen to paper, we talk about what question is being posed. What are the units of measurement involved, if any? What is a reasonable estimate of what the answer will be? Those types of things. 

All the while, I try to keep reminding the kids that math is a process and a puzzle, and that it's fun to figure out or solve! 

While doing so, a couple of afternoons ago, I had an "Ah ha!" moment: It occurred to me that from the youngest age we're taught that math is a PROBLEM. 

How many times in your life have you been instructed to solve the math PROBLEM? Probably too many to count. 

Now think about this for a moment ...

Merriam-Websters defines problem, in part, as "a source of perplexity, distress, or vexation."

Google tells me problem is "a matter or situation regarded as unwelcome or harmful and needing to be dealt with and overcome."

So let's do a little math ... 

Problem = Distress + Harm + Vexation
Math = Problem
Math = Distress + Harm + Vexation

See how that adds up?

And when do you ever want to have "a problem"?

Um, never!

Given all this, I think it's time to change how we talk about math. I propose that the word 'problem' not be used in association with math any more. Ever.

There are options. For instance, it could be solved by simply swapping in the word "puzzle," or "exercise "or "challenge" or even just "question."

A powerful tool to solve everything from calculating the cost of a banana to understanding the mysteries of life, the universe and everything, math is cause for celebration, not dread. 

Math is not the problem. The way it's talked about and taught IS all-too-often the problem. 

The good news is, there's a solution and it can start with something as simple as swapping out one problematic word.


MUSIC MAKERS: On Monday morning, CJ and Annabelle had the opportunity to take a field trip to the Apple store in the University District. There, they attended a neat-o workshop about how to use "GarageBand," a computer software program, to produce music.

I'll let CJ tell you a little more about it.

Monday, my sister and I got up before 8 A.M. to go to the Apple Store in the University District, located a couple miles from our house. We went for a workshop hosted at the store, where we would play with GarageBand, a popular IOS app used to create music.

Though I had heard about the workshop for multiple weeks prior, I had no idea what GarageBand was actually like until we went to the workshop. GarageBand allows you to take multiple audio tracks (that you can create with "Smart Instruments"), put them together, and thus get a song as a result. No knowledge of actual instruments is needed to make a song.

The song I made, titled "GarageBand Composition", is available at SoundCloud and Google Drive.

And here is a link to Annabelle's composition: https://soundcloud.com/user-853274603/sets/garageband

The kids got some nice swag from the class - a cool Apple T-shirt (they have them on in the photos at the top of this post) and a USB bracelet. Sweet!