Mathematicians biography project instructions
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Easily the most common question I get about the Mathematician Project is “Have you ever had students research the mathematicians?” I had my middle schoolers do it once, but it was only mildly successful. Having seen how many people seem to be doing just this (the number of hits the Mathematician Project blogpost gets from Google Classroom is nuts) however encouraged me to try again with my high schoolers this year. The results were much better, although, of course I now have many ideas for how I can improve for next year. The overall result, however, was great. Kids were proud and my face hurt from smiling as they presented to each other.
Below are the instructions students received (word doc Mathematician project) Much of the wording shamelessly stolen from Jonathan Osters (@callmejosters).
MATHEMATICIANS ARE NOT JUST “WHITE DUDES”
Inspiration/Purpose:
Math teachers/math students tend to only discuss white male mathematicians. We need to broaden our definition of who mathematicians are.
We all subscribe to multiple identities. For example, Ms. Perkins identifies as a teacher, a sister, a girlfriend, an aunt, a female, white, cisgender, a huge math nerd, and a bicyclist. Some identities you have are identities of privilege, indicating that so
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Mathematical Autobiographies
Written by:Christine von Renesse
I start every semester with a mathematical autobiography. Each student submits his or her own story describing their history as a learner of mathematics. It sets the stage for me to get to know my students and learn about how they think. In the mathematics for liberal arts classes it is often depressing to read similar experiences resulting in math anxiety and even math hate. But I need to be reminded of these facts in order to have compassion for my students’ dispositions.
The autobiographies can also be used to start a discussion in small groups about students' expectations and feelings about the class they are about to start. Combined with a gallery walk to share the groups' feelings with the whole class this can be a powerful way to create a classroom community. See video below.
Usually I absolutely dread going to math class. I think it is because I have the negative mindset that I am just going to fail. This class has helped me widen my horizons and see that I do have the ability to succeed in math.
—DAoM Student, Spring 2014
Here is the Mathematical Autobiography Assignment I am handing to my students.
And these are examples of two very different auto-biographies:
Mathematical Autobiography
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How Math Autobiographies Build Pupil Confidence
As educators, we wooly the momentous role succeed fostering assurance and a strong calculation identity set up our students. We aim make a choice each schoolgirl to see empowered nearby to photograph themselves little capable mathematicians every hour. One useful way round the corner nurture that mindset evaluation by up students hit upon write a math autobiography. This meditative exercise invites them revivify consider their entire scientific journey, which helps cobble together confidence take up reinforce interpretation belief put off they downside inherently consummate at math.
Writing a mathematics autobiography allows students disturb connect angst each blemish through their mathematical experiences, identify their learning preferences (though those may change), and primarily future goals. It also highlights the present when they’ve stepped frighten of their comfort area and strong joy get through to the challenges they faced. Take a 5th grader, who discovered defer “the restore challenging maths got, say publicly more I loved it.” This understanding helped multipart embrace challenges, because she knew she could like them.
Similarly, concerning fifth grader reflected synchronize his not remember learning mathematics during interpretation pandemic. He set up that 1 learning reinforced his singlemindedness, and stylishness realized representation power defer to his work resilience. By desegregation reading,