Columbus, Ohio – At the beginning of every school year, Erica Golden makes a promise to her fifth graders. The Lindbergh Elementary School teacher assures her students on the first day that they will enjoy math by the end of the year.
Golden’s philosophy on math isn’t something she experienced when she took math classes as a student. When she was younger, math was more regimented, with a focus on doing every problem in a textbook from beginning to end. For Golden, this learning method did not foster a love of math.
She wanted to do things differently for her students. No one day in her math class looks the same. Some days, students focus on solving problems in their textbooks, as Golden did when she was young. But math in her class is not a solitary activity. Rather than quietly completing questions, Golden encourages students to work together to discuss their problem-solving strategies. If a student successfully completes half of the problem but is unsure what step to take next, fellow students take a look at their work and offer advice.
