We worship through telling the story of God—His great works centred on Christ—and God’s call to humankind, which is worthy of all praise. Psalm 33
We need to show students how their mathematical learning is relevant to the life and tasks that God has given them through the lens of the Biblical story.
A helpful place to start is to prayerfully consider how this topic helps me personally:
- Worship God
- Serve others
- Steward God’s world and its (my) resources
This provides an authentic framework from which to plan a topic.
When students understand the goal of their learning, it motivates them to expend energy on their learning.
A well-articulated philosophy of mathematics is foundational, as it informs teacher choices and provides contexts for learning. Teachers can then draw attention to assumptions made about life and mathematics, build an understanding of the fallen world, and help students see a ‘need’ for action. They can then re-story these within God’s redemptive purposes.
The story of God’s purposes for life, education, topics, activities, and even mundane mathematics skills needs to be told in the daily worship of God.
Here are some tools to help you frame mathematical learning through the lens of the biblical story:
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What I love about Mathematics
Why do we learn maths? Mathematics helps us stand in awe of God as we consider the beautiful patterns that make up His world. Our deep hope is that students can use mathematics to be good stewards of all that… Read more
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Discussion starters: Patterns and Algebraic Algorithms
Read: How social media algorithms are flattening culture. What decisions should be made by algorithms? What can you do about it? Read more
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The skills and drills of Mathematics
Enjoyment can be found through the processes of manipulating numbers, discovering patterns, solving problems, and helping others do the same. Read more
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Head-Heart-Hands Overview
“Formational learning develops the mind, captivates the heart, and equips the hands, encouraging curious and courageous learners to explore God’s world and live out the hope of Christ”. Frame learning around the deep home for students. Read more
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A philosophy of Mathematics
A well-articulated philosophy of mathematics, such as the one above, informs teacher choices and provides meaningful contexts for learning. Why do we learn mathematics? Do you have an authentic answer? Read more
