Blog Post 1: Why Teach the History of Math?

 Pre-Reading Thoughts 

I think math history should be incorporated into teaching as it helps students understand the purposes of math concepts. I also think teaching the history of math in a math class would help engage students who struggle with solving math problems or those who are more interested in humanities. On my first day of Grade 12 Calculus, I remember my teacher asking the class if we thought math was invented or discovered. It sparked an amazing conversation that got the class invested into thinking about math. When thinking back on that discussion, I feel that more discussions like that would’ve kept me more interested in math in school. 

Post-Reading Reflection 

I understood the critiques that there may not be time to integrate teaching the history of math into classes, but I think there are ways teachers can make an effort to incorporate the history of math into the teaching of math skills. Like I mentioned in my pre-reading thoughts, introducing a new concept or starting the year off is a great time to open the discussion about math as it can be done quickly and get students excited for what they’re about to learn. 

I also loved the idea that learning about the history of math could help kids from getting discouraged when struggling with math, as persistence and failure is part of the discovery of math.

As a student that struggled with math in school, I remember constantly asking my teachers “why do we have to do math,” the teachers always responded with something along the lines of, because its in the curriculum, which I didn’t find to be a very good answer. I think by teaching the history of math we can explain to students why we do math in a way that inspires them to think creatively.