If we want children to see themselves as mathematicians, we need to disrupt stereotypes and help children to understand that we are all mathematicians.   

Mathematicians are people who: 

• Use math to solve everyday problems and puzzles
• Understand the importance of and appreciate the beauty of mathematics
• Recognize and appreciate all contributions to mathematics
• ​Make informed decisions and contributing fully to their own lives and to today’s competitive global community
• Adapt to changes and synthesizing new ideas
• Work both independently and collaboratively to creatively approach challenges
• Communicate effectively
• Think critically and creatively and see connections to other disciplines beyond mathematics  (Mathematics Curriculum Context)

There are many picture books and stories that we can read to learn more about who we see as mathematicians, including:

• Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo by Helaine Becker
• The Girl with a Mind for Math: The Story of Raye Montague by Julia Finley Mosca
• Maryam’s Magic: The Story of Mathematician Maryam Mirzakhani by Megan Reid
• Whoosh!: Lonnie Johnson’s Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions by Chris Barton
• The World Is Not a Rectangle: A Portrait of Architect Zaha Hadid by Jeanette Winter

For information about how to read these books and many more online, please visit the Sora eBooks page on the YRDSB website.

Celebrating the Many Global Contributions to Mathematics

Throughout human history, people from many cultures and societies have contributed to the continuously developing understanding of math.  As a part of each monthly newsletter, one of these many significant contributions will be shared in celebration of how diverse ways of knowing have shaped our mathematics today.

Did you know that instead of using a base 10 system like we do today, the Mesopotamians (encompassed present day Iraq and Kuwait) used a base 60 number system?  They passed this system on to ancient Egyptians who used it to divide a circle into 360 degrees and, over 6000 years ago, even created a 360-day calendar.  

Different cultures have used different bases for their number systems such as 10, 20 and 60.  Computers use a base 2 system called binary.