Math Teachers – You need to see this website!
Dan Finkel and Katherine Cook, a husband-wife team of mathematicians from Seattle, Washington, created this site to promote real exploration with math. Perusing this website reminded me of attending a Math Conference at the Palm Springs, CA Convention Center a few years ago. I walked the aisles of math-related booths, picking up all kinds of fun, new ideas for creative ways to teach math. This is even better.
Ted Talk by Dan Finkel
Watch Dan talk to an auditorium of math educators about changing the math mindset of students. Dan and Katherine have seen students who previously disliked math, smile and enthusiastically join in for math puzzles and games they created. Dan shows the educators in his audience how his award-winning game “Prime Climb” works to encourage students to think, play with numbers and try new ideas. This game can be purchased on Amazon.com along with another award-winning game “Tiny Polka Dot” for younger children.
A Library of Free Resources
It’s easy to tell Dan and Katherine are passionate about what they do, because they offer a FREE library of games and puzzles for teachers to use. The site also offers curriculum for different grade levels (currently 80% off), professional development videos, and recommended websites such as “Math PIckle”, “Better Explained”, and “What If?”. Articles on the website include ” Getting Kids Interested in Math without their Knowing”, “Demonstrating the Joy Behind Numbers”, “Math as Play”, “Thinking Without Stress”, and “65 Uses for a Paperclip”. (Kindergarteners excel at this one!)
You’ll find so many games and puzzles on the Math for Love website. Spend some enjoyable time exploring this site if you love finding new and better ways to teach math.