letters to my class

Dear Problem Solvers,

When we do math, we’re learning how to think. More importantly, we’re learning how to solve problems. In the “real world,” no one actually does arithmetic, but those who know how to are better at solving problems because they’ve had lots of practice and they have a powerful method for doing so.

You’re going to have to solve problems every day of your life, numerous times, almost constantly. What should I believe? What is true? What is the good life? What kind of toothpaste should I buy? Those are the types of philosophical problems that math prepares us to tackle in analytic and truthful ways.

So when you’re doing your math today, spend less time worrying about your answers and more time thinking about your thinking. The most important thing you learn from math can’t be written on the other side of an equal sign. It’s in your head.

Sincerely,

Mr. Heimbuck