Math Enrichment Program for Kids

May 7, 2018 5:16 PM

I remember reading a post some years ago (2-5?) about a math enrichment program for kids. The idea was to teach an intuition and sense of puzzle-solving/wonder around math rather than rote learning. I seem to recall an example being asking kids how they would find the area of a triangle rather than just teaching them how. There was a metaphor about how the way we teach math is akin to teaching music by making kids learn all about scales before letting them hear a single song. Anyone know/remember what this math program was?
posted by If only I had a penguin... to MetaFilter-Related at 5:16 PM (7 comments total)

I suspect you're thinking of math circles. There was this FPP as few years back.
posted by hoyland at 5:40 PM on May 7, 2018

Maybe this one?
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 5:41 PM on May 7, 2018

I think it was Math Circles. Thank you.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 8:21 PM on May 7, 2018

Not to turn this into AskMe but Jo Boaler has written extensive about fostering a growth mindset in math and moving away from rote math teaching. Mathematical Mindsets is written primarily for teachers but is very accessible and has lots of examples. She also is part of a MOOC trying to implement this.
posted by Wretch729 at 12:01 PM on May 8, 2018 [2 favorites]

The book Family Math supports playing with mathematical concepts.
posted by puddledork at 6:42 PM on May 8, 2018

The Art of Problem Solving and associated stuff is also particularly good.
posted by bq at 12:26 PM on May 10, 2018

If only I had a penguin...: "I seem to recall an example being asking kids how they would find the area of a triangle rather than just teaching them how. There was a metaphor about how the way we teach math is akin to teaching music by making kids learn all about scales before letting them hear a single song"

Was it 'A mathematician's lament' by Paul Lockhart?
posted by andycyca at 12:25 AM on May 20, 2018