Volume 2, Issue 5 (September/October 2017) of The Variable, periodical of the Saskatchewan Mathematics Teachers’ Society, has just been released!
From Kindergarten to Grade 12, there is something for everyone in this month’s issue of The Variable. In his article “Mining Math Contests for Good Problems,” Shawn Godin shares a variety of sources of great problems for your classroom, demonstrating how they can be modified to suit your students’ needs; Caroline Junkins challenges the view that mathematical ability is determined at birth, arguing that an incremental theory of ability can lead to success in both teaching and learning; and Lee Walk and Marshall Lassak describe their effort to make homework matter to their students.
You will also find our regular features, including “Spotlight on the Profession” (this month’s interview features Lisa Lunney Borden, a mathematics education researcher committed to decolonizing mathematics education through culturally-based practices and experiences); “Intersections,” which will bring you up to date on upcoming professional development opportunities; and “Problems to Ponder,” where you will find a range of rich problems for use in your K-12 classroom. Last but not least, this month’s issue features the third installment of “Math Ed Matters by MatthewMaddux,” a column by Egan Chernoff telling “slightly bent, untold, true stories of mathematics teaching and learning.” In this issue, Chernoff discusses “abhorrent mathematical algorithms,” or mathematical abhorithms, and explains what, exactly, he has against bow ties.
To access this month’s issue, head to http://smts.ca/the-variable/, where you will find this and all issues of The Variable free to download.
We hope you find this publication relevant and valuable for your teaching or personal interest – and if so, that you share it with your colleagues and invite them to join the conversation! If you have feedback, questions, or would like to contribute, we would love to hear from you – contact us at thevariable@smts.ca.