Math Monday::Calling All Math Haterz!
I love that math is one of the few things you can admit to hating, without sounding ignorant and simpleminded. This standard doesn’t apply to much else…it’s not like you can walk around saying, “Oh, I hate reading. I never do it if I don’t have to” or “I can’t stand history. I’m totally phobic about it!”
I do hate that so many people hate it, though. I hate that I used to dislike it so much, I would literally cry anytime I had to do it. I hate that in school, math is taught as mainly a way to do computations, and misses out on the beauty and sublime patterns of numbers. Yes, beauty. Poetry might be the language of lovers, but math is the language of life. And once I discovered that, I fell in love. Mad, deep love! Then when I fell in love, I shared it with my math phobic and traumathtized daughter who also fell head over heels in love. This is saying something for 2 people with dyscalculia!
A few of my blogs on the matter, talking about number circles and patterning, caught the eye of Sue over at Math Mama Writes. She asked if she could republish it in a book she’s working on, “Playing With Math”, and of course I said yes. Irony is one of my favorite literary concepts, and what’s more ironic than me being published first in a math book. Ha! Revenge of the Math Hater! All them bitches that failed me in math classes can suck it!
I have two favors to ask on this matter. One, is to take this poll, which would help Sue out. It quite possibly could be the easiest thing you do all day!:
[polldaddy poll=5139728]
Next, she’s looking for people to join a reader response team:
If you’d like an early peek at the book and the glory of being in the acknowledgements, you can sign up to be a part of the Reader Response Team. You’ll get 3 to 5 chapters a week to read (starting this Wednesday). We don’t need close editing for grammar and spelling at this point. What we need is your opinions as reviewers: What works? What doesn’t? What’s missing? And a rating for each chapter (Keep, Toss, or Wow!).
You’ll make a commitment to review the chapters within the week; it will take 11 weeks to read through the whole book. (Or you can pick the Summer Speed Reading option, and get the whole manuscript all at once.) Each week, discussions among the Reader Response Team will bring new depth to the already wonderful writing.
We are especially looking for people who love to read and do not like math. You are our acid test of the book!
If you’re interested, link through and leave a comment on her blog. Not only will you get a chance to get a sneak peak of a revolutionary math book for FREE, you will also pick up some amazing ideas about math. It’s a win/win!
Math Haterz Unite!
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I originally started reading your blog back in the math monday days. Our homeschooling group had a group for quite a long while. We played with circles, triangles, number lines, pendulums and a whole host of fun stuff. Good to hear your "love" of math will be featured in her book.
Thanks, Tiff! Even here, at mathhaterville, we've got more than 50% liking math. What's up?!
Hooray! Thank you for letting us know about this opportunity, Tiff. I've been following your blog for a few years now, devouring your posts on 2e topics in particular. We still don't have the math thing figured out. Dyscalculia SUCKS! I totally want to be a part of this project.