Like a Kid at Christmas

One of the things that I teach is math.  I am a confirmed math geek, and I love opening up the language of mathematics to my kids.  Too often, by the time students get to me, they have come to be convinced that they cannot "do" math, don't like math, and are just no good at things having to do with numbers.  It is one of my deepest delights to take those "math phobic" students and show them ways to decode and unravel the mysteries of math, and learn to deal with it with confidence and, sometimes, even a sense of enjoyment.

Tomorrow I will join with my 52 sixth graders and a brave group of parent volunteers to take part in a day that we will forever more refer to as "Measure Mania."  I have a set of hands on explorations planned that are designed to allow my kids to explore a variety of topics related to the mathematical discipline of measurment.  Tomorrow, my students will analyze a "crime scene," make and fly frisbee-style flying saucers, measure the change in the mass of chewing gum as it is chewed, build scale models of traditional Chinese courtyard houses, make sand clocks and water clocks, and design boxes to hold choclate candies for the "Ooey-Gooey" Candy Company.  They will measure distance and time and mass and volume and surface area and circumference.  They will determine appropriate scales to make models and floor plans.  They will use what the numbers will tell them to come up with a theory about "who done it," just like a forensic scientist. 

I've worked for weeks to plan it and put it together and make all the arrangements.  I have everything poised to go first thing in the morning.  I am sooooo... excited.  I cannot wait.  I am just like a kid looking forward to Christmas.  I can't wait to share this day with my kids.  I am so anxious for them to enjoy and learn and feel interested and excited and intrigued by the things they will do tomorrow. 

I know.  It is a "teacher" thing.  It isn't anything that probably excites and interests most people, but I am just like this.  This is the other passion of my life -- and I cannot wait for it to happen.

swan