Tag Archives: Sidewalk Math

Sidewalk Math / Math Walks

Many of you have experienced this. You start reading about one thing and it leads you down a rabbit hole and you end up somewhere you weren’t expecting.

So my rabbit hole ending up here: Math Walks

KQED Mindshift had a story on sidewalk math.  The gist is parents and educators were using chalk to write math problems on sidewalks in their neighbourhoods and schools. Immediately the teacher in me saw the potential for student engagement from having math presented in this new format and location. I experimented with math journals last year as a classroom teacher and this is something that ties in the intended purposes of the journal; to foster brainstorming, revising their thinking if they get stuck or make a mistake, and collaborating with peers to share strategies and problem solve. All of this could be recorded in a journal. Consider having students write their ideas and answers next to the question and take pictures of it with a device. Now you have some formative assessment as well as digital evidence for online portfolios to share with parents. There is so much potential; especially for students who may struggle with math or written output or engagement inside a  classroom. When we change the parameters of how we deliver instruction and support, we create another opportunity for success.

Click on the links and give them a bit of your time. Of course, there is other rich content within them to lead you down your own rabbit hole. Good luck and see you on the other side.