Teaching Kids to Think

One major problem with math education is that the failures of the past are carried over to the future by teachers who were poorly taught themselves.

Instead of encouraging curiosity, they suppress it because they are made uncomfortable when they are asked questions to which they don't have ready answers.

The attitude of a teacher should be, "I am here to learn"; not "I know everything and will pass on to others parts of my knowledge". A teacher should be an explorer, not a shoveler of facts.

Teachers who are nervous about thinking on their feet will engender that attitude toward their students.

A math class should take a test composed by a teacher other than their own. That way each teacher will be forced to teach students to be flexible and to cope with unfamiliar concepts.

Students need to learn to cope with a bit of intellectual discomfort. They should learn to appreciate receiving their ideas unwrapped, instead of demanding concepts in lovely gift wrap with a pretty bow on top.