At 27, I left a demanding job in management consulting to teach seventh-grade math in New York City public schools. I noticed that IQ wasn't the sole determinant of my students' success; some with average IQs excelled, while some with high IQs struggled. This observation led me to believe that every student could master the material with enough effort and time.
Before I had kids, I was apprehensive about the idea of parenthood. I perceived it as an end to fun and coolness, and children seemed like little terrors to my childless self. However, having children of my own has completely transformed my perspective. The instant emotional bond and protective instincts that kicked in were overwhelming and unexpected.
*Play is an essential way of learning about the world. Doing things we enjoy without a goal in mind leads us to find new information, better understand our own capabilities, and find unexpected beauty around us. Arithmetic is one example of an area we can explore through play.*
Published in the March 6, 2023 Issue