Dear Math, you are intimidating!
What intimidation sounds like…
“Dear math, You frustrate me and make me feel inadequate. You make me feel small.”
“Dear Math, Not understanding you is the worst feeling because it feels so scary and people make it seem like you have to know this crazy math stuff”
“Dear math, When I stood up and I couldn’t explain a problem, I was so embarrassed”
“Dear math, I would be so mad that I would start crying at home because I didn't understand you. I hope to become friends with you soon.”
Sarah Strong and her student Gigi Butterfield collaborated on the book Dear Math: Why Kids Hate Math and What Teachers Can Do About It. This insightful work compiles and analyzes hundreds of student letters to math, identifying prevalent themes and emotions.
Dear Math, you are powerful!
What “Powerful” sounds like…
“Dear Math, Even when you became increasingly more difficult I found the challenge intoxicating. I spent hours researching you, planning on becoming a professional studying you in later years.”.
“Dear math, You’re a beast. Only manageable when tamed, but once you are, you’re loyal and helpful.”
“Dear Math, I learned that my perception of there being only one answer to each of your equations or expressions was entirely false; and further even, that in some ways, the “answer” was far less important than the process of reaching it.”
“Dear math, I can thank you for being so broad and surrounded in so many different studies.”