10 Minute Teacher Podcast with Cool Cat Teacher Play, Curiosity, and the Joy of Math with Dan Finkel
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Nov 17, 2025 Join Dan Finkel, the founder of Math for Love and a mathematician dedicated to making math playful. He shares insights on transforming math learning into a joyful exploration through curiosity and play. Discover the importance of starting lessons with questions and the value of productive struggle in developing deeper understanding. Dan emphasizes that math can ignite passion and creativity, making it an exciting journey for both teachers and students alike!
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Math As An Empowering Experience
- Dan Finkel sees mathematics as an artful, empowering experience that transforms how people view the world.
- He believes everyone deserves at least a taste of math's deep, beautiful power.
Play Unlocks Deeper Math Learning
- Letting students play with mathematics creates deeper, more joyful learning experiences.
- Playful math leads students to learn more rigorously and to want to continue exploring.
Begin With Questions, Not Answers
- Start lessons with questions or prompts that spark student curiosity, not with answers or procedures.
- Use contextual problems (like tilted squares) to lead students naturally to concepts and proofs.