Blogs & News

​   One of my recent favorite reads was Vanessa Vakharia’s Math Therapy, and I can’t recommend it enough! What’s more, I thought it pairs nicely with DebateMath to create more engaging and welcoming classrooms. Vanessa hit me hard right from the start, sharing how serious math trauma can be. What’s more, that trauma is often […]

​  

One of my recent favorite reads was Vanessa Vakharia’s Math Therapy, and I can’t recommend it enough! What’s more, I thought it pairs nicely with DebateMath to create more engaging and welcoming classrooms.

Vanessa hit me hard right from the start, sharing how serious math trauma can be. What’s more, that trauma is often holding students back from trying new things and taking risks. As she says: “We can’t expect our students to take risks or exhibit vulnerability when they are protecting…an open wound” (p.11).

Vanessa doesn’t just talk about helpings students with math anxiety and math trauma, she offers clear, concrete activities you can do immediately. These include both short and long options, including some of my old favorites like name tents and Math-ographies.

But what stood out to me the most is the parallels to DebateMath. When I read statements like:

• “Mythbust the idea that math is just about getting the right answer” (p.72)
• “We rarely ask our students to actually reflect or feel in math class” (p.80)
• “Tell kids that you are just as interested in their process as you are in the final result” (p.212)

I kept thinking about the messages I want students to understand when I ask them to debate in math class. I want it to be be more about the process and their thinking. I want them to be creative and share their unique way of looking at things. I have less of an emphasis on the answer, and more of an emphasis on celebrating ideas and welcoming new ones.

There’s so much I could say about this great book, but I’ll let you discover all its hidden gems yourself! And feel free to message me. I’d love to hear your thoughts!

 One of my recent favorite reads was Vanessa Vakharia’s Math Therapy, and I can’t recommend it enough! What’s more, I thought it pairs nicely with DebateMath to create more engaging and welcoming classrooms. Vanessa hit me hard right from the… Continue reading →  Read More