Math Celebrity April 2018

positivity APRIL 2018

When I began studying math and computer technology, I made another amazing discovery: The same principles I’d learned from my Spanish teacher applied to math and binary code. It was one of those “aha!” moments. If I knew the language of math, the meaning behind each number and symbol, I could understand it and communicate it to others. That discovery has been paramount in the development of MathCelebrity.com. Our online tutor is an international site, and problems are submitted from all over the world. We see questions from over 30 countries. Numbers are universal, but there are many different ways of asking the same question. If someone asks for an addition problem, they may ask for it three or four different ways. We might get a problem in the form of “45 + 46,” while another person will ask, “What’s the sum of 45 and 46?” and yet another might ask, “What is 45 added to 46?” For our online math tutor to give the answer, I had to get it to understand that those different equations all have the same root. There’s translation involved in the way someone asks for a problem on our site. Thanks to my Spanish teacher, I can understand those connections and translate them. May 8 is Teacher Appreciation Day, a great time to show your appreciation for the incredible educators in your life and your child’s. If a teacher impacted you in school, maybe it’s a good time to reach out to them and let them know how much they influenced you. Inside the newsletter, we’re paying tribute to one of the dedicated teachers in our community. Read on to hear from Mr. Alajoki, a history teacher who discusses the wins and challenges he faces in the classroom and what he’s doing to provide better education for our children.

“Mathematics is the language in which God has written the universe.” –Galileo Galilei

Teachers play a crucial role in educating our children. An effective teacher can set a stray student on the right path or open up new doorways for a promising student. Often, you don’t understand how important your early educators were until adulthood. Then you find yourself having an “aha!” moment when you realize the knowledge your teacher imparted to you is still valuable. In middle school, I had an influential teacher who structured my way of thinking for years to come. She was my Spanish teacher in seventh and eighth grade, and she showed me the importance of learning a second language. She taught us that memorizing the words was only part of the process: If you can’t understand the language, you’re never going to communicate with anyone. It was more than a lesson in language — it was a lesson in listening. Learning a language isn’t just memorizing the vocabulary and repeating it. It’s discovering the meaning behind those words. This teacher forced us to look beyond what was right in front of us to discover where the words came from (their etymology). While it was more work to learn, when we heard a word, we knew the meaning behind it. We could see how different languages use roots to arrive at the same meaning. I took two more years of Spanish after middle school, and while I’m by no means fluent, having learned the roots of the words helps me recall the meaning when I hear the language spoken today. Our family went on a vacation to Cancun recently, and I found myself carrying on a rudimentary conversation with Spanish speakers there. Those lessons in listening stood the test of time.

www.mathcelebrity.com – Don Sevcik

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in the Great Outdoors

Family adventures are a great way to grow closer and develop meaningful connections. But with lodging prices rising and the logistical nightmare that traveling with the entire family can be, many Americans are looking at a new option: ditching the beaches and resorts and heading to the great outdoors. Actually, we know this option isn’t new at all. Spending time outdoors with family may very well be one of the most time-honored traditions ever. CAMPING Lodgings and flights are expensive, so going on a family vacation can cost thousands of dollars — and that’s just for the basics! But camping only requires a tent, a fire, picnic food, and water. Rather than scarfing down fast food between flights and dealing with airport security, departure delays, and long flights, take a deep breath and roast marshmallows over the fire with the people you love. HIKING A hike with family is an easy way to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. All a hike requires is a trail and a sense of adventure. The best part of hiking is that you can tailor the distance to fit your family’s needs. If you have children or grandkids who aren’t

Any disappointing trends in education you’ve seen? Inequality of school districts. The spending per student is vastly different in low-income neighborhoods versus more affluent areas. The technology and after-school programs for affluent areas are much better. As dollars per student increase, more programs get funded: arts, technology, field trips, and after-school programs. I’d like to see lower-income areas gain more dollar-per-student spending to take advantage of the benefits. Tell us more about the educational trends you see. Guided groups based on ability levels. I see more independent study efforts. We use inquiry-based learning models as well as tailored learning. One big trend I’ve seen is student involvement in world events and politics. The students believe in informed action with topics like climate change. The kids in my classroom wrote letters to public officials such as Scott Pruitt and the President. They believe in a more informed electorate. Mr. Alajoki, thanks so much for all that you do for kids in the classroom! up for the challenge of an arduous daylong trek, there’s sure to be a shorter scenic trail. If nothing else, you can always turn around and backtrack the way you came. FISHING Fishing is a great way to get out and do something relaxing yet challenging. It doesn’t require a lot of skill or investment. All it takes is the willingness to learn and the desire to connect with nature. This is why fishing is the perfect activity for youngsters of all ages. So, what are you waiting for? Grab your rod and reel and head to the nearest lake or river. While these are all great stand-alone options, together they form an amazing three-headed monster for your next family outing. By combining camping with a hike to a river or lake where you can go fishing, you are sure to create lasting memories with your family that will draw you closer together. Ditch the lines at the airport and the stress of travel. Unleash the possibilities of adventure in the great outdoors.

How One Educator Molds Young Minds and Fosters Hope for the Future

May 8 is Teacher Appreciation Day, so we thought we’d get a head start by paying tribute to one of our incredible educators, Rob Alajoki. Mr. Alajoki teaches history at Westchester Middle School in Illinois. He found his calling while working at Memorial Park District giving archery lessons and taking youths on field trips. “I always had a knack with kids, and I loved social studies and history.” He shares with us what he loves about his students, his job, and what he hopes to see in the future of education. What do you like most about teaching? I like seeing kids connect with a new concept. I like when they learn something new. It’s fun to get involved with the kids. What is your biggest challenge as a teacher? The wide range of ability levels between kids in the classroom. Some of the kids I teach are advanced, 3–4 levels above other kids. And on the flip side, some of the kids I teach are behind a few grade levels. My challenge is finding a lesson plan to fit all the students. What is your favorite technology in the classroom? 1:1 Chromebooks and Google Classroom. These tools fit our class well, as we are 90 percent paperless.

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The Amaz ing Math Behind 3-D V i deo Games

in a game, they put in directions to describe how that point should move so the computer understands the command. Once these descriptions are inputted, a computer can reassemble the images in just an instant, making them appear as they do on-screen. The computer uses hundreds to millions of triangles to assemble the images. The instructions given by the engineer make the movements look accurate on the viewer’s screen. These calculations bring 3-D characters to life and give the entire world depth. Cambridge University’s NRICH Project tells us the nuts and bolts behind the concept: “The basic idea of 3-D graphics is to turn a mathematical description of a world into a picture of what that world would look like to someone inside the world.” If your child enjoys video games, they’re accessing math every day, most likely without realizing it. If they’ve ever asked, “When will I actually use this?” you can respond that it’s right in front of them.

If you’ve ever collected golden coins as Mario or searched for bananas in the universe of Donkey Kong, you’ve probably felt the exhilaration of pulling off some crazy moves as a video game character. Maybe you felt this exhilaration as a kid and you now get to watch your kids have the same experience — only in much more realistic worlds. Isn’t it amazing how much video games have changed? Games have evolved from one-dimensional side scrollers with pixelated graphics to dynamic 3-D worlds filled with characters, depth, and color. Most video games you see today are three- dimensional, and the math behind these images is almost as amazing as the technology. Gaming engineers use vectors to plot geometric shapes, allowing them to be understood by a computer program so they can take on movement and life. Simply put, vectors are a mathematical representation of a point. You can use a set of symbols to create a vector, often seen as (x, y). As an engineer plots these points

bra in puzzles

Pasta Wi th Turkey & Broccol i

Ingredients • 3/4 pounds pasta (shells or orecchiette) • 2 cups broccoli florets • 3 tablespoons olive oil • 1 pound ground turkey

• 2 cloves garlic, chopped • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper • Salt • Parmesan cheese

directions 1. Cook the pasta according to package directions. Add broccoli when pasta is 1 minute from done. Drain both and return to pot. 2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the turkey, garlic, crushed red pepper, and a pinch of salt. Cook while breaking up meat with a wooden spoon for 3–5 minutes. 3. Combine turkey with pasta and broccoli mixture, adding the remaining olive oil as you stir. Serve in bowls topped with Parmesan cheese.

(Recipe inspired by realsimple.com.)

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The Influence One Teacher Can Have

3 Awesome Ways to Create Lasting Memories

Mr. Alajoki Gives Us a Lesson

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The Game-Changing Math Behind 3-D Images

Pasta With Turkey and Broccoli

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The Origins of April Fools’ Day

The Hi story of Apr i l Fools’ Day

and jokes to honor the vernal equinox, the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. ‘CANTERBURY TALES’ Another origin story comes from Geoffrey Chaucer’s 1392 book, “The Canterbury Tales.” There are still questions about whether Chaucer really wrote the stories and whether they have any direct link to April Fools’ Day. In the book, Chaucer describes the date “32 March.” Some believe this was a joke, because March 32 doesn’t exist, but some medievalists insist it was a misprint. April Fools’ Day certainly has murky origins. Whether our traditions come from the Gregorian calendar switch, Hilaria, or even “The Canterbury Tales,” we can all enjoy our chance

Although April Fools’ Day has been celebrated for centuries by cultures around the world, the holiday’s origin is unclear. Historians point to a variety of possible beginnings, but the only solid conclusion is that the April Fools’ Day we know today is a blend of traditions. THE GREGORIAN CALENDAR In 1582, France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. Some people were slow to get the news, and others failed to recognize that the start of the year had moved from April 1 to Jan. 1. Those who celebrated during the last week of March became the butt of jokes and hoaxes. People placed paper fish on the backs of March celebrators to symbolize young, easily caught fish and referred to them as “poissons d’avril,” or “April fools.” HILARIA Other historians have linked April Fools’ Day to the ancient Roman festival Hilaria, which was celebrated at the end of March. The festival honored Cybele, a mother of gods, and celebrations included parades, masquerades,

to let loose and play pranks on our friends and family at least one day each year.

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