Fundamentals vs. Emotions

A week ago, my wife Robyn and I joined our son Carter at his school’s Title 1: Math Night event. This event has been happening for years. Parents of elementary school kids are invited to participate along with their children in various math challenges. It gives the opportunity for the kids to show off what math skills they have been acquiring to their parents, but it’s also a chance for parents and children to learn and work together. Most importantly, children get to see their parents become a visible and collaborative part of their educational experience.

The event was a lot of fun. The night started off with everyone meeting in the cafeteria. While eating Papa John’s pizza and cookies, the audience was entertained by a song from the fourth and fifth graders’ production of Winnie-the-Pooh. After that, families wandered the school, shoulder to shoulder, crowding into classrooms where the various math challenges were broken up by grade-level. I am proud to report to you all that I was able to understand most of the fundamental elementary math… however it took Carter’s not so patient instruction for his mom and dad to understand what was being asked from the problems.

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