X Marks the Why

Writing in Math - How to communicate like a mathematician Introduction One thing that I think about a lot is the distinction between math in high school and math in the world. Generally students ask ‘when am I ever going to use this?’ and my reply is often ‘something exactly like this? Never, this is a problem bred in captivity. It’s a domesticated math problem, to be nice and obvious. The ones in the wild are more complex.’ I tell my students that we learn math formally so that they can use math informally.  However, one thing that we do in learning math that I think is a disservice, is that we allow the solving process to be the totality of the mathematics, rather than how it is often utilized in real life - which is the explanation. To this end, I started working on ‘math papers’ with my students. I would like to share the barebones idea below to invite feedback and improvements to the formula.  1st - The Problem For the math, at least to start, begin softly. I simply pic...

 Hello! It feels odd to be throwing out information into the void like this, but I suppose that is what I do on a regular basis - so I ought to be used to it. My name is Griffen Fletcher, and I have been a math teacher now for a decade.  My love of math is focused on the logic, the puzzle, the fundimental beauty of the math itself. As a math techer, I try to capture that same spark that inspired me and share it with my students. I want them to know that math is weird and wonderful, creative and exploritory, beautiful and vast. I hope to show them wonder and to inspire them to think about all things on a deeper level. Through this blog I hope to share my passion with YOU, my virtual student. As well as share ideas, projects, and puzzles that I feel enhance a high school mathematics classroom. Let's explore together!