|
|
 |
Writing by the NUMB3RS
for secondary grade students
by Dr. Rex Church 
An excellent inspiration for incorporating math concepts and applications into writing may be as near as your favorite television set. NUMB3RS is a drama on CBS that airs on Friday evenings and is currently in its third season. The basic premise of the show is that we use math every day for everything from cooking food, to telling time, to keeping our automobiles running. Furthermore, math is far more than just formulae or equations; it’s using our minds to logically and rationally solve the greatest mysteries in our lives. An FBI Special Agent and his mathematically genius brother help solve very confounding crimes by applying mathematical perspectives and reasoning.
NUMB3RS is rather unique in that was specifically designed to help students, parents, and teachers realize the relevancy of math in their everyday lives and activities. The show works directly with Texas Instruments and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics for content and teaching strategies ideas. Each episode addresses specific math concepts and applications. These are then available online at "We All Use Math Every Day" web site and include very helpful classroom activities, similar to lesson plans, for each of these concepts.
While NUMB3RS is primarily geared toward high school students, even younger children will quickly understand the relevancy of mathematics in everyday life. Likewise, many math activities for very young students are included at Texas Instruments educational website (http://education.ti.com/educationportal). Browse around awhile. You’ll find lots of cool stuff!
With an understanding of the value of math in our everyday lives, perhaps students, parents, or teachers are ready to write their own mini-episodes of NUMB3RS. Write a challenge or problem that can only be solved using mathematics. See if other people are able to solve the mystery. If you think your idea is a really good one, you can even submit it to the Texas Instrument website listed above. So, get out your calculator, scratch your head, and enjoy writing!
Dr. Rex Church
Dr. Church graduated from Indiana State with a B.S. in Psychology, and from Ball State with a Masters and Doctorate in Educational Psychology and Special Education. He has been the Director of the School Psychology Clinic at Ball State, and later was the Director of Special Education for the Alexandria Community Schools for several years. For the past 10 years, Dr. Church has worked for the Buddy System Project helping teachers, parents, and students integrate technology into the classroom.
visit other tips for technology integration:
|
 |
