The New Mason Jar with Cindy Rollins

S5E68: The Beauty of Mathematics with Melissa Bair

Oct 19, 2023

Melissa Bair, a mathematics expert and homeschooling mother of 4, discusses the beauty of mathematics and its impact on education. They explore the connection between math and music, the significance of noticing and wondering in math education, and the importance of play in learning. They also mention a Catholic Charlotte Mason curriculum and a math curriculum called Life of Fred.

50:38

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Episode guests

Melissa Bair

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Quick takeaways

Mathematics can be considered both an art and a language, with mathematicians valuing elegance and beauty in mathematical proofs and solutions.

Shifting the focus from viewing math as purely utilitarian to appreciating its beauty and intrinsic value can instill a love for the subject in children and help them develop a deep appreciation for God's creation and the mathematical principles within it.

Deep dives

Math as an Art and Language

Mathematics can be considered both an art and a language. Mathematicians value elegance and beauty in mathematical proofs and solutions, similar to how art is recognized. Fractals, such as the Mandelbrot set, showcase the artistic side of math. Moreover, math serves as a language to describe and understand the patterns and workings of the universe. Just as music is a language, math is a language that can be used poetically and artistically.

Introduction

4min

The Intersection of Math and Music and Discovering Charlotte Mason

2min

Exploring a Catholic Charlotte Mason Curriculum and the Power of Picture Study

2min

Finding Beauty and Poetry in Mathematics

15min

The Importance of Noticing, Wondering, and Discovering in Mathematics

3min

Starting Math Education Later and the Importance of Play

21min

Exploring the Beauty of Mathematics and a Philosophy of Education

3min

We take strong ground when we appeal to the beauty and truth of Mathematics; that, as Ruskin points out, two and two make four and cannot conceivably make five, is an inevitable law. It is a great thing to be brought into the presence of a law, of a whole system of laws, that exist without our concurrence,––that two straight lines cannot enclose a space is a fact which we can perceive, state, and act upon but cannot in any wise alter, should give to children the sense of limitation which is wholesome for all of us, and inspire that sursum corda which we should hear in all natural law.

Charlotte Mason, Philosophy of Education, p. 230-231 Show Summary:

Today’s guest on The New Mason Jar is Melissa Bair, a homeschooling mother of 4 who loves math and has degrees in mathematics and computer sciences
How Melissa first discovered Charlotte Mason’s philosophy
How Melissa came to love mathematics and what impact her teachers had on her
What kinds of activities and materials Melissa uses to teach math in a more beautiful way
The building blocks of math: notice, wonder, and discover
Is math a language or an art?
Does seeking to find the beauty in math put too much pressure on homeschool parents?

Books and Links Mentioned:

Affiliate links are included below.

John Holt

Poetic Knowledge by James Taylor

Leisure: the Basis of Culture by Josef Pieper

For the Children’s Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay

Real Learning by Elizabeth Voss

A Mathematician’s Lament by Paul Lockhart

Caleb Gattegno

Chasing Rabbits by Sunil Singh

Mater Amabilis

The Mandelbrot Set