Exactly what I needed to hear today when the frustration with parents, guidance counselors, and students starts to fray my nerves as they look for ways to quick fix and cram the test- or simply squeeze their forehead really hard to muscle through a question. They don’t read enough and their basic math curriculum and habit of skating by catches up with them! They want the SAT tutor to be a magical wizard to address all the inadequacies in 1 hour a week!!
Thanks! I was going to add that anecdote about Ramanujan and 1729 as an example of perpetual updating, but I didn't want to make the piece too long.
Do you still work with a lot of math competition students? Some of them have phenomenal maps! But I imagine the need for detailed mental models is even more pressing at that level.
Yes, math contests and AoPS students. With greater exposure and more time spent thinking about math, students have more opportunity to strengthen their maps. I think the interleaving and spaced repetition also helps.
Exactly what I needed to hear today when the frustration with parents, guidance counselors, and students starts to fray my nerves as they look for ways to quick fix and cram the test- or simply squeeze their forehead really hard to muscle through a question. They don’t read enough and their basic math curriculum and habit of skating by catches up with them! They want the SAT tutor to be a magical wizard to address all the inadequacies in 1 hour a week!!
Glad it's not just me!
The "updating the map" metaphor really resonated with me. I'm going to reuse that one.
Thanks! I was going to add that anecdote about Ramanujan and 1729 as an example of perpetual updating, but I didn't want to make the piece too long.
Do you still work with a lot of math competition students? Some of them have phenomenal maps! But I imagine the need for detailed mental models is even more pressing at that level.
Yes, math contests and AoPS students. With greater exposure and more time spent thinking about math, students have more opportunity to strengthen their maps. I think the interleaving and spaced repetition also helps.