Math is Easier

I love when my child says, “Why is life so hard?  Why can’t life be as easy as MATH?”  You don’t hear that everyday.  Personally, it brought me a bit of joy, being a mathematics teacher and tutor.  I’m glad that she believes MATH IS EASY.  With that said, I can see what she is talking about.

My daughter has been recently working out some “issues” at school… how to act appropriately, good behaviour, making friends… much like I am working out some “issues” in my life… the dissertation, employment, good parenting.  As we work together through these “issues” together, she exclaims “Math is easier!”  Many of us may not believe so, but she’s got a good point.

There are so many decisions to be made in life and no one is really sure which is the “right” answer.  So, we spend our time “guessing and checking” to navigate through our lives in search for the “right” answer.  In mathematics, there are formulas, patterns, and predicable outcomes.  Follow the “right” rules, the desired consequence is attained.  In life, there are ‘rules,’ but they are not all universally accepted.  In the end, chaos. 

I can understand my daughter’s frustration.  There are no “right” answers.  The only way you can find out if things are “right” or not is to try it out.  Does it feel good?  Did you get the payoff that you were looking for?  Was it worthwhile?  If you can hit a hat-trick of YES on these three questions, then you are on the “right” track.  Otherwise, it takes a moment of contemplation or re-evaluation as to what went well and what needs improvement (aka. the mantra of Assessment for Learning or AFL).

Ahhhh… I’ve reached full-circle, a moment of Zen.  I love math.  I love AFL.  I love life.  The worlds have all collided to make a wonderful Venn Diagram and I’m in the middle.  A moment of solace.