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!

Art and Airplanes

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: Friday evening, we headed downtown to the Seattle Art Museum. It was a special occasion as it was Annabelle's first time having her art hanging in a museum.

She, along with many other Seattle Public Schools students had art in the annual show.

Just inside the doorway, she checked in at the artists' table. She received a sticker identifying her as an artist, a nice certificate, and an event program.

 We found her artwork near the rear of the exhibition. 

I'll let her tell you a bit more about the experience.

WINGING IT: Saturday morning, we were up at 6:30 to make sure we could have Annabelle down to The Museum of Flight by 7:15. The occasion: A special meeting of Amelia's Club and a chance to visit the Alaska Airlines facility at SeaTac.

It looks like part of her day included a slide show about everything from how to fly a plane to how to become a pilot.

 I like the sense of humor in the slide below. 

 The visitors were definitely asked to take their opportunity seriously.

I'll let Annabelle tell you a bit more about her day. ...

Alaska Airlines Aviation Day was an event I went to as part of my Amelia’s Aero Club, a club for middle-high school girls that are interested in aviation. When I arrived at the Museum of Flight, I joined my group and we got on the bus to Alaska Airlines. The first thing we did when we reached the building was watch a few presentations by pilots and employees of Alaska Airlines. They talked about how planes fly, why they fly for Alaska, and how we could become pilots, too. After watching the presentations, my group came together and took turns in the flight simulator used by real pilots! The simulator had a large, curved screen in front of it so it actually looked like you were pulling in to the airport. Me and my friend, Isabell, took turns and successfully landed the plane twice!

                  (the photo below is a small model of the flight simulator)

Our next stop around the offices was a room where flight attendants showed us the self-defense they learn and how they evacuate planes in an emergency. There was a training dummy (named Bob) that they used to show how to use parts of your body like thumbs, to poke at an attacker’s eyes; your elbow, to deliver fast and tough jabs to the abdomen; and your feet to stomp in their way and kick them. After the small training on self-defense, my group worked our way into the model plane, where the flight attendants briefed us on what was going to happen. A (recorded) safety briefing began to play, before it was interrupted by the attendants telling everyone loudly to get our heads down and grab our ankles in a bracing position. After the plane “landed” they told everyone to get up and out of the way (so they could check the damage) and the two in the front directed everyone to fold their arms and step off onto the slide. The attendants said the rules state they need to be able to evacuate everyone in 90 seconds or less.

Before I knew it, we went for lunch in the plane hangar and sat right next to a plane. Once everyone was finished eating, we walked to a few small planes and learned a bit about US customs and what they prevent. Our group went back to the flight attendant’s room to kill some time, and then we left. It was a fun day, and I love learning more about aeronautics!

She certainly got an up close view of some pretty planes!

 Below is a photo of some of the things that didn't make it through U.S. Customs checkpoints.

CJ enjoyed his moment in the sun at the Museum of Flight. Earlier in the day, he purchased his first two domain names. Look for more information about those in posts to come.