Book review
Have you stared at curriculum after curriculum claiming to be “natural” or “creative” or “engaging” and known that bright colors or cartoon characters pasted over the same reams of procedural problems would not fool your kids?
Are you a homeschool parent who leans towards liberal arts because you feel maths lack the depth you’ve found in other subjects like history or literature?
Have you read research about learning and struggled to bridge the gap between mainstream mathematics instruction and what we know is effective?
Are you a parent who feels frustrated trying to help your kids with their homework or is wracking your brain to understand why any educator would think common core instruction is a good idea?
If yes, read Jo Boaler’s book. Her enthusiasm is infectious. I found myself represented in the research. As a young person, I chose not to pursue higher maths because they did not fit with my forming identity. As an adult, I see the beauty of maths in life all around me. I hope my own children will make big connections between maths and their lives, will find relevance and excitement. Boaler shows us how and assures us, with research, that we can progress and reach people by diving deeper and encouraging creativity, rather than continuing in some false sense of rigor. Five stars are necessary simply for the impact this book has had on my life. As Boaler says, viva la revolution!
- Goodreads rating – 4.47
- REVIEW – Jennifer