26th February, 2008
Revelation- Why Study Math Reason 4
In past weeks, we discussed a few reasons to study math. If you remember, Reason, Dominion, and Justice are a few of the principles we can use to inspire our children. My hope is that by shining meaning and purpose on the subject the weighty work will be transformed into joy. This quote from Alfred Whitehead found in Mathematics, Is God Silent resonates;
There is a widely-spread sense of boredom with the very idea of learning. I attribute this to the fact that they [the students] have been taught too many things merely in the air…The whole apparatus of learning appears to them as nonsense.
Moonbeams by Jessie Wilcox Smith
Telling children they have to learn something to get a college degree, or a good job may motivate some, but the abstract noose of the future strips away meaning and leaves a dead shell. The study of mathematics is meant to be so much more. It is the study of life. It is the language of nature. Most importantly, it reveals the glory of the Creator.
Music. Shape. Form. Sequence. All the beauty of nature is written with mathematics from the symmetrical petals on the tiniest flower to the spiral galaxies in an unfathomable universe. The laws of nature are the fingerprints of a wise, faithful, infinite Creator who teaches us that 2 plus 2 always equals 4. The fundamentals of math do not change. They exist in the nature of an unchanging God.
True motivation and inspiration for mathematics lies in the observance of God’s created order…There is a treasure to be found in the mathematical structure of God’s creation. We only need to learn how to find it…Keep your eyes open for mathematical insights in newspapers and magazines. Get out into God’s creation and investigate. Take pictures and collect flowers, pine cones, shells… ibid. p. 109
I am ready to find the treasures. Will you join me?
For more insight into mathematical principles, consider these helpful books listed in my perceived order of importance:
- The Guide to American Christian Education by James Rose
- Mathematics, Is God Silent by James Nickel
- Encyclopedia of Bible Truths: Science/Mathematics by Ruth Haycock
- The Noah Plan Mathematics Curriculum Guide by By Arthur Paul Ricciardi
And visit these websites of moms who have done the research, too:
- Biblical Principles of Mathematics- Principled Mom
- Principled Math- Lifestyle Education through Discipleship
- How I’m Teaching Math- Loving Him 4 Ever
- Biblical Principles of Mathematics- The Principled Reformer
Previous posts in this series:
Posted at 12:22 am | Comments (6)
18th February, 2008
Biblical Education is Easy
El announced to the bibleprinciples group that Ms. Dang has a new website. While there, I discovered she has a blog! Today I skimmed an article that nourished my soul with the sweet waters of truth.
Biblical education by definition is easy and light. Scripture tells us how children are taught: ‘For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.’ Isaiah 28:10
This gentle instruction reminds me to sprinkle principles like dew on budding flowers allowing time for the life to soak in. My tendency is to pour bucketfuls of fertilizer-saturated water over the tender shoots in my children’s hearts. However, my students have unique ways of letting me know they’ve had enough. The little plants float to the surface, stretch for the sun, and flutter in the breeze. Children grow little by little, inch by inch. They should be taught the same way.
For more of Ms. Dang’s biblical wisdom, visit Philomath Foundation. There does not appear to be a subscription option, but you can access it anytime from the Principle Approach blogs listed in my sidebar. You’ll have to scroll a bit. Philomath is the last link.
Posted at 10:37 pm | Comments (7)
14th February, 2008
Thoughts about Teaching Art
Art is a subject area which our children love. It has been relegated to drawing without instruction, to coloring without observation, to modeling without purpose. The study of the life of Benjamin West, Father of American Painting, is helpful. He learned his first lessons of shading, line, and perspective by his own efforts. These are principles which we will enjoy teaching our students- and the use of pencil, crayon, brush.
Lisa and Summer, thanks for asking me what I’m reading! Would you believe this quote is from A Guide to American Christian Education? It has been next to my computer for weeks as I ponder principles of mathematics. Art is still more enjoyable for me than arithmetic, but my passion for the “language of science” is growing.
So what books are you savoring? I’m tagging:
Here are the rules:
- Pick up the nearest book of at least 123 pages.
- Open the book to page 123.
- Find the 5th sentence.
- Post the next 3 sentences.
- Tag 5 people.
(For those of us who count sentences, it’s true. I didn’t follow the rules. Shocking, isn’t it?)
Posted at 10:44 pm | Comments (5)
12th February, 2008
Justice- Why Study Math Reason 3
Without common and honest measures individuals can easily defraud one another. Leviticus 19:35-36 outlines God’s intention for trade relationships.
You shall do no injustice in judgment, in measurement of length, weight, or volume. You shall have honest scales, honest weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin.
No one wants to buy from a dishonest dealer, but how can you detect a swindler unless you understand the numbers? I think that is why Scripture admonishes repeatedly “not [to] pervert justice due the stranger or the fatherless, nor take a widow’s garment as a pledge.” The vulnerable in society need protection. It is criminal to cheat anyone, and seems especially heinous to steal from the weak.
More years ago than I want to mention, I sold ice cream. After making a milkshake for a mother and her young son, I asked the owner the price. He told me an amount I later realized was higher than listed. The lady spoke little English and the man purposely cheated her out of a few dollars. No amount of money is worth debauching your soul. Being a part of that transaction still grieves me. The lady was not valued for her individuality, her humanity; only for her money. This scenario is too common.
My children will face similar situations. Will they know if they are being cheated? Will they safeguard the defenseless through their honesty? Justice cries out for individuals who can be trusted. Every relationship depends on it. Math illuminates corruption, and my hope is to heed its warnings. In order to love wisely, my children must understand arithmetic.
- Reason 1- Exactly
- Reason 2- Dominion
- Reason 4- Revelation
Posted at 8:20 pm | Comments (5)
31st January, 2008
What Do I Know?
Preparing to write another post in my series on mathematics, words neatly underlined in pencil arrested my thoughts. These words meant enough for me to highlight years ago, but they have more application today in the midst of my unofficial practicum.
A teacher must teach a subject from his own understanding of that subject. This premise is true in both the home and the school. The most deadening way to ‘teach’ is to hand a textbook or workbook to a student with instructions to sit down and do a certain lesson or certain number of pages per day. This method impedes both the imparting of a love of the subject, and the wonderful fellowship of teacher and student together learning the works of God.
Doesn’t that address the purpose of education? I want my children to have a love for the subject, not as an end in itself, or as a checklist of facts, but as a means of relationship with God and others. The relationship inspires. The time spent seeking, wondering, finding, and creating brings a smile, a memory of discussion, and a realization of the discovery. What young child doesn’t want to share what she knows? Think of the first time she sorts the blocks by color, or writes her name. She excitedly calls you close for praise. Her heart’s whisper is almost audible, “Mommy, I am learning to speak your language. Are you proud of me? Do you love me?”
Now it is my turn. I learn the language of subjects I may not particularly enjoy or understand to teach my children. An unashamed quest for applause no longer applies, but I do have a valuable audience though small in number and size. James Kilkenny advises:
The teacher who is deficient in a subject that he must teach has an opportunity to demonstrate love of learning and self-education. He can no more impart the knowledge of some learned textbook writer than David could slay Goliath with Saul’s armor. Each teacher must use his own sling and five smooth stones, his own knowledge, ability to learn and to ‘lead in advance of others.’
It is impossible to become a master teacher in every subject. However, I can learn the principles of each one and give my children a foundation to build on for the rest of their lives.
Using the stones from my soul, I draw my little ones close. Which stones are the most effective, the most powerful? I don’t know exactly, but I suspect it’s the brightest, smoothest, and heaviest. In my worn leather bag that stone is love: love for my children and love for the creation of God. It is the foundation stone. Everything else will build on that.
Quotes are found in A Guide to American Christian Education.
Posted at 12:36 am | Comments (16)
23rd January, 2008
Dominion- Why Study Math Reason 2
Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines arithmetic:
The science of numbers, or the art of computation. The various operations of arithmetic are performed by addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
These operations are necessary to care for property. Every week, I gather payments from various labor, add them up, and write a bank deposit. Then I get the privilege of dividing the money between the bills. By the grace of God, I don’t usually deal with negative numbers, and because my husband and I have done the math, we know our limits and set our goals.
It is easy to see that finances deal with numbers, but math is important for more than balancing the checkbook. In A Guide to American Christian Education, James Kilkenny writes,
None of the vast varieties of the work of the world, either in planning, doing, or evaluating, could be done without arithmetic. It is an essential tool of dominion.
The very stuff of existence requires a knowledge of math. We need food, shelter, and clothing to survive. How can we get and keep those things without adding or subtracting, planning or evaluating? Our goals and dreams hinge upon the hard work of doing. Even the hours and minutes of life are counted “that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Psalm 90:12
Teaching our children arithmetic is imperative for without it they will be dependent upon someone to care for them and their property. However, equipping children with the “tool of dominion” grows good stewards prepared to live in freedom caring for the many blessings God bestows.
- Reason 1- Exactly
- Reason 3- Justice
- Reason 4- Revelation
Posted at 10:44 am | Comments (5)
6th January, 2008
Exactly- Why Study Math Reason 1
During my Principle Approach training, a debate about math ensued. Why require students to study higher mathematics if they will never use it? We finally agreed. It is a discipline that develops the mind.
Emily replied to that part of a comment I left at Principled Discovery,
That’s so spot on! I am frustrated with the ‘I’ll never use it in the real world’ argument. It just makes no sense…Our brain is a muscle that needs to be exercised and learning is the way to do it.
I appreciate her enthusiasm. When it is time to practice math facts with my son, my excitement wanes. Cards games and manipulatives help, but I already know the multiplication tables. To combat my grumbling, I return to my educational philosophy. Knowing why arithmetic is valuable inspires me.
A stated goal for the study of arithmetic is to “train the reasoning abilities.” Benjamin Greenleaf, 1862, is quoted in A Guide to American Christian Education for the Home and School,
‘One of the principal benefits of the study of mathematics is to teach the learner how to reason with elegance and exactness.’
Reasoning from one point to another. Seeing the rational answer. Working through mistakes. These are merits my children receive through the concrete ideas of arithmetic. They learn a much needed life skill: logical thinking. That is worth the effort.
- Reason 2- Dominion
- Reason 3- Justice
- Reason 4- Revelation
Posted at 11:32 pm | Comments (6)
