You can’t get a better writing prompt for a math blog if you pushed really hard!
So what is a root? And what does it mean to have many roots?
A root is the opposite (the inverse) of a power or exponent. When you raise something to the power of 2 (or square it), you’re using the exponent 2. If you want to undo this, you take the square root.
When we do this for roots of larger numbers, it gets much more entertaining. Like the 4th root.
Raise 3 to the 4th power… you get 81 (which is 3*3*3*3). So when you take the 4th root of 81, you get back 3.
That’s not the intent of the prompt, though…
Indeed the FiveMintueFriday prompt wasn’t meant for math. So let’s consider the other “roots” in math. What are your math roots? What kind of math roots are you establishing for your children?
Do you have positive math roots? Do you say happy and positive things about math when it’s mentioned. Do you make a point to point out where you do math daily (like setting your alarm clock)?
If you do, you’re establishing some very good math roots for your children.
I’ve been doing 50 Word Friday for a while. But I’ve just stumbled across a thing called Five Minute Friday that has me excited.
My heart is racing!
Yup. Racing.
And it’s not from the coffee overload this morning.
I have what’s called “test excitement” — which is the opposite of test anxiety. If you tell me to do something (for which I some level of mastery) and then say that it’s timed or a test, I just go nuts.
I’m all about getting the best grade, beating everyone else or creating the best whatever in the allotted time.
In this challenge, you don’t proofread what you do. How exciting!
And you only write for 5 minutes. So I’ll pick a photo before she gives the prompt.
Which means that what you, sweet reader, will get out of this, is anyone’s guess.
The one thing I’ll guarantee… it will be about math or math learning.
Anxiety or Excitement?
So what does this article have to do with math?
In order to excel you have to be out of the state of anxiety and into excitement. This goes for excelling in learning as well.
So try this little test with your children. Print this Anxiety or Excitement? sheet (or use a blank page) and have each of your children (and you) fill it out.
In one column write out everything that makes you anxious. Include all the things you avoid because of this.
In the other column, write down everything you love to do — anything you’re excited about doing and you want to do more.
Then take a peek at what you and your children have written.
What do you notice?
Use those filled out sheets as a guide to turning anxiety into excitement — like if your child is anxious about math but loves fairies, convert all word problems into fairy problems. Like this:
The fairy playground is about 50 twinkletoes wide by 120 twinkletoes long. There’s a border of pixie dust around the entire playground that’s 1800 square twinkletoes. How wide is that pixie dust border around their playground?
Does it turn anxiety into excitement? Maybe not immediately.
But perhaps if you let her draw it out — with glitter paint — it will start her down the right path!
Stay tuned…
If one of the things on your excitement list is writing or doing anything at midnight for five minutes, join me for the #FiveMinuteFriday party (aka #FMFParty)!
I’d love to see what you write. And if you’d like to share your anxiety/excitement list with me, please do! Put it in the comments or post it on twitter/x.
