You can have your pi and eat it . . .

Dear Families:

The Middle School celebrated Pi (π) Day (3/14) by constructing a visual representation of the non-repeating nature of pi using colored squares. This intriguing take of this important number is on display in the hallway outside of the math room. In addition, interested students had the opportunity to share how many decimal places of this legendary endless irrational real number they could memorize. The number pi, which is defined as the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, is known to most people by its truncated form: 3.14159. More than 50 students from all four grades accepted the challenge to see how far beyond the first few decimal places they could go. One fifth grade student memorized and recited at Middle School Meeting over two hundred and twenty places past the decimal point! Just to give you a sense of what that looks like, here are those 220 places . . .

3.1415926535897932384626433832795028841971693
993751058209749445923078164062862089986280348
253421170679821480865132823066470938446095505
822317253594081284811174502841027019385211055
596446229489549303819644288109756659334461

All of the students who were able to memorize at least ten places past the decimal point earned actual pies for their efforts, and the grand prize winner was granted 3.14… pies. All in all, a delicious mathematical exercise!

Sounds like fun, but beyond the entertainment value of the day’s activities is there a more important message here? I think there is. These events and their associated activities highlight an important goal of our approach to teaching mathematics and of our math curriculum in general. As students acquire important math knowledge and practice the skills that allow them to put these concepts to use, they also discover their capacity for creative and critical thought and the rewards of curiosity. We play at math to discover important truths about the world we live in and these discoveries provide us with another language for making sense of our experience.

As with any endeavor, this requires hard work and practice. It is not always easy and for some and the challenges can be frustrating. But when one steps back, there is a clear sense among the students in the Middle School that math has a relevance beyond just being useful for some future purpose. That students can derive so much pleasure from something like Pi Day speaks to the purposefulness of our curriculum.

When I poke around in our math classrooms, I am always struck by the depth of thinking and ability to think mathematically that our students have established as habits. In my mind, this is precisely the goal that a good middle school math program should have for its students. What this translates into is students who have a solid foundational knowledge AND who possess the ability to understand and use mathematics as a symbolic and relational language for looking at the world.

I had a fairly traditional math experience in middle and high school. While that program of studies led me to calculus in my senior year, every prior year was a seemingly endless series of memorizing algorithms and practicing them all the while saying to myself, “What is the point of this?” It was not until my senior year when I was taking calculus and physics that things clicked. That was hardly surprising given that the calculus was derived by Newton and Leibniz to resolve core questions in physics. Why did I have to wait until my senior year of high school for such a clear and powerful illustration of the beauty and utility of mathematics? The general orientation of the Connected Mathematics Project (CMP) curriculum that we use seeks to address this question in the most obvious of ways: students must experience math as a means for making sense of the world if we want learning to occur on a deep level.

While it is true that there is a dimension of math competence that requires students to be able to work a variety of algorithms to get to a “precisely right answer,” I would not define that as the purpose of math nor actually as math. Following algorithms is an operational activity, which when not connected to a deeper understanding of the elegance and purpose of those algorithms becomes simply an exercise in following rules. So how do we help learners to begin to see the world from a mathematical perspective? And in so doing, how do we help students to acquire a set of discrete skills that not only helps to guide them to the answers to one set of problems, but also becomes the foundation for the exploration of new problems?

To answer this, I think that it is also important to note that while we use the CMP program, we are not driven by it to the exclusion of other ways of approaching math education. There are some camps that describe CMP and its peer programs as “fuzzy” and there are other camps that describe the more traditional programs as “routinized.” For me, these distinctions (like those in the debate between phonics and whole language in the literacy realm) are ostensibly political. They are about different camps staking out positions on a field that has more to do with securing textbook contracts than with childrens’ learning. What good progressive schools (and I place us firmly in this camp) have always done is to take a balanced approach. It is not an either/or. In adopting the CMP program, we recognized that it had certain limitations and that for some students its approach might be more challenging. That is why our math teachers have worked in deliberate and thoughtful ways to consider how to supplement the program to best meet the need of all students. Hence, the “Beat the Basics” strand and a focus on reinforcing basic math skills, which for some students requires additional practice and repetition.

One question that seems to come up a lot is that the CMP materials don’t teach math, they don’t feel like a “real” textbook. I’m not sure that I or any of the Middle School math teachers would say that the purpose of the CMP books is to teach mathematics. The books are indeed supporting materials. They support a rigorous approach to math that posits the math classroom as the crucial nexus point where students, the teacher, and mathematical ideas come together to make meaning. Math instruction at LREI and CMP in particular is structured around a collective learning experience. It is not a course of independent study.

It is true that the CMP books do not present the algorithms as one would find them in a traditional math textbook. However, these elements are hardly absent from what goes on in the classroom. This structure does, on occasion, pose some challenges for some learners. If a student does not have the necessary materials (definitions, notes, worked problems) from the class, he/she may encounter difficulties when working at home. Some of you have asked us to provide additional materials to supplement the CMP texts. The question of what constitutes appropriate materials to supplement the CMP program is one that the math teachers and I continue to discuss. The question is a nuanced one as those materials must fit with the pedagogical approach and sequencing that drives instruction (i.e., if students are engaged in working out an algorithm then giving them supplementary materials that spell out the algorithm does not make sense). Our on-going efforts in this area are really just a continuation of our committment to finding the right balance that is so important.

So any good math program will always be “in process.” Our goal is to not only find ways to be more balanced in general, but to always endeavor to work with each family to be more balanced relative to the needs of your child. So at the heart of all this process rests a partnership between home and school. As we work to define this partnership, we are often are asked about the CMP methodology, which is sometimes misunderstood as “the teacher facilitates and the student discovers” without any “real teaching” on the part of the teacher. This description misses a crucial component that makes CMP a structurally sound approach. This misunderstanding only posits two legs (teacher facilitates and students discover); the third leg is that teachers do “teach” after the discovery has been made. They do define a generalizable conclusion that leads to an algorithm that encapsulates the discovery. This third leg is the “traditional” math curriculum that many of us experienced when we were in school. Ultimately, it is what our teachers do with the CMP program structure that creates powerful opportunities for learning. There is no holy grail of math programs here; there is, however, the committed work of dedicated teachers trying to get it “right.”

Questions of truth and beauty have always been mired in the conflict between the relative and the absolute. And in fact, one can look at the history of math and science as one long melody on the proven fallacy of what was believed in a given moment to be “precisely right.” While it is certainly the case that at an operational level math requires a certain necessary degree of precision, it is often the getting to the solution that is far more interesting than the solution itself. It is the debate over these varied paths that moves mathematicians and that makes of math a kind of poetry. I can think of no more meaningful road for our young mathematicians to travel along especially when they find themselves with an able guide and worthy traveling companions.

This Week’s Attachments
(Click on the links below to open the attachments. If you are having trouble opening the links, go to http://www.lrei.org/weekly/ms/ to access the files.

General:

2007-2008 Calendar
Parents in Action Flyer
Big Auction Donation Forms
Spirit Game Flyer
Afghan Quilt for the Big Auction
Eighth Grade:

DC Trip Payment Letter

Seventh Grade:
Sixth Grade:
Fifth Grade:

Of General Interest . . .
1) Attention Sports Fans — Friday, March 16th is the date of the annual LREI Spirit Basketball Game that will match up LREI’s multi-talented faculty/staff against the up-and-coming stars of the Middle School and High School basketball teams. This will be a great opportunity to witness the athletic talents of our student athletes and to experience firsthand how exciting it is to have a home court gym. At half time, there will be a foul shooting contest for athletes in the Sixth Grade or younger. We have hosted some amazing games this season, where the roars for the home team were heard on Houston Street. So come out and see what all of the excitement is about — March 16th at 3:30PM at the Thompson Street Athletic Center, 145 Thompson Street between Houston Street and Prince Street. We look forward to having a big crowd to help celebrate the end of our first year of having a “home court advantage.”

2) Friday night’s event, An Evening of One Acts… This winter, seventeen juniors and seniors enrolled in a new English elective – “Playwriting: From Page to Stage.” In this writing workshop class, students studied the foundations of dramatic writing and took on the unique challenge of bringing human experience to life on the stage. Through exposure to a variety of dramatic texts, from classical to contemporary, students learned to identify and analyze various aspects of the playwriting form— dramatic structure, characterization, conflict, dialogue, plot and setting, stage directions, and design. Over the course of the trimester, each student wrote a ten-minute scene, a character monologue, and a one-act play. Each day, students took turns reading and performing each other’s work, offering constructive feedback, and engaging in peer revision. Friday’s “Playwrights Showcase” is the culmination of three months of hard work by an incredibly talented group of writers, actors, and directors. We hope you will enjoy it. Admission is free. The showcase will begin at 6:30 PM in the Charlton Street PAC

3) Coming soon! The LREI Step Team will be performing as part of FAMILY MATTERS Dance Theater Workshop on March 17th at 2:00PM. The theater is located at 219 West 19th Street. The show is appropriate for ages 3 and up. Tickets are $10 for kids and $20 for adults. Call for 212-924-0077 for reservations. You can also buy tickets online. Use the code (SPRING BREAK) for a $5.00 discount on adult tickets. Program Description: The body becomes a canvas on which colorful legends and rueful stories are painted. On the menu: Strokes of genius are delivered by Merce Cunningham alum Glen Rumsey’s gender-bending ballet, the inspirational stepdancing of the LREI STEP TEAM, and the Brazilian influenced free world music of The Nation Beat. The feast continues with Lawrence Goldhuber and his all-diva cast who serve-up a cautionary tale about what can happen if you eat too much. Flamenco fans will delight in the foot falls of the Ballet Hispanico School Ensemble, while the graceful Trinayan Collective will execute a fable in the Odissi style of classical Indian dance.

4) An Invitation from Phil Kassen, Director: On March 20th, Tim Wise will speak with the LREI community on the topic of privilege and class in America. Tim Wise is among the most prominent anti-racist writers and activists in the US. Wise has spoken in 48 states and on over 400 college campuses, including Harvard, Stanford, and the Law Schools at Yale and Columbia. Many of our faculty members have heard Mr. Wise speak and found him to be engaging and insightful. He will spend a good part of the day here on March 20th and 21st meeting with students, faculty and parents. Parent Events featuring Tim Wise:

  • Tuesday, March 20th, 7:00PM, Performing Arts Center, 40 Charlton Street. (Child Care Available at Charlton Street, please sign up at the Sixth Avenue Reception Desk.
  • Wednesday, March 21st, 8:45 AM, Sixth Avenue Cafeteria, Breakfast Discussion with Tim Wise.

There are several copies of Tim Wise’s book, White Like Me, in each library. Click here for more information about Tim Wise. Tim Wise’s visit to LREI is generously supported by the Wendling Foundation as part of an ongoing grant to support diversity efforts, including the visit by the Human Race Machine, earlier this year.

5) Thinking Ahead? Join us for the High School Preview Night on Tuesday, April 10th at 6:30PM in the Charlton Street Performing Arts Center (PAC). This is a wonderful opportunity for Middle School and Lower School parents to learn more about the High School from parents, students and recent alumni. We hope to see you there! RSVP to the Admissions Office at ext. 305.

6) Upcoming Parent Events–Facebook, AIM, Club Penguin, BitTorents, YouTube, and countless other old, new and emerging web technologies are used by our children everyday. What do you know about them? How safe are they for your kids? Are there ways to make your child/tween/teen’s computer environment safer and more productive? What can you do as a parent? What can the school do? The answers to these and other questions in a frank discussion on kids and technology moderated by the LREI tech coordinators. We will visit some sites, explore options that will make you child’s cyber-environment safer and give you an overview of what we teach at LREI about internet safety. Additional resources will be given out for parents on paper and on www.lrei.org.
Two sessions:

  • Session One for parents of 7th – 12th graders on April 17th at 6:30 in the Sixth Avenue auditorium
  • Session Two for parents of 3rd – 6th graders on April 18th at 6:30 in the Sixth Avenue auditorium.

7) Think LREI Big Auction! While shopping in your favorite stores or dining out at your favorite restaurant, take along some donor forms and make on-the-spot requests. It’s easier than you think! Think… Restaurants, Entertainment (tickets to shows, sporting events, film festivals), Beauty and Health (facials, massages, spa gift certificates), Wine, Champagne and Specialty Foods, Children’s Items, Services (passes to museums, classes, birthday party certificates), Designer Fashion (handbags, gift certificates, jewelry), Vacation Homes, Creative One-of-a-Kind Events (behind the scenes tours, backstage passes), Frequent Flyer Miles and Preferred Guest Points. Donation forms can be found here or in the Sixth Avenue and Charlton Street lobbies. If you have any questions, please contact Sandra Song at ssong@lrei.org. Remember…The Big Auction is on Wednesday, May 2nd, 2007. All proceeds of the auction support Tuition Assistance. Donations are tax deductible.

7) An open invitation to those in our community who would like to participate in creating this year’s Afghan Quilt for the Big Auction: It is time to pick up your needles and yarn and knit or crochet a 6×6″ square in colors and patterns of your choosing to be assembled into a beautiful, cozy, handmade creation. You can drop completed squares off in the collection box in the Sixth Avenue lobby up until Thursday, April 12th. This us a perfect project for Spring Break that will also support the school. If you have any questions, please contact Jenna Torres at jennasdreamworld@hotmail.com.

8) For updates on faculty performances, openings, presentations, and publications visit the Faculty in the News page on the school web site.

9) LREI is a member of NYC-Parents in Action (NYC-PIA). NYC-PIA provides parenting education, information and a communications network to help parents prepare their children and teenagers to cope with social pressures and to make sound choices towards a future free of alcohol and drug abuse. Please read the attached flyer to view their 2006-2007 calendar. You can also access their on-line calendar of events at http://www.parentsinaction.org/.

For Eighth Grade Families . . . .
1) If you have not done so already, please read the attached letter with information about the upcoming DC trip.

2) The eighth graders will take another class picture on Monday at 11:00AM. We are up against a deadline for the yearbook so it is important that we get this done on Monday. Please remind your child on Sunday so that they come to school appropriately dressed for the picture.

3) Save the date: Our annual Forensics Unit Trial is scheduled for Thursday, April 12th at 6PM. Additional information from Stephen Volkmann will be forthcoming.

For Seventh Grade Families . . .
No updates this week

For Sixth Grade Families . . .
1) Save the date: The annual Medieval Pageant and potluck diner is scheduled for Wednesday, March 21st at 6:00PM. Your parent reps request that you bring a dish and a beverage. Please drop them off in the school cafeteria by 5:30 if possible (the Afterschool program will be in session in the cafeteria until 5:30PM so please be discrete when you drop things off). They need volunteers to help with decorations, setup and cleanup. Please let your reps know if you are interested in helping. If you are so inclined, below is a list of websites with recipes with a medieval flare:

  • http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/cariadoc/recipe_index.html
  • http://www.bitwise.net/~ken-bill/med-p1.htm
  • http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/food.html
  • http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/cariadoc/islamic_dinner.html
  • http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/cariadoc/recipe_toc.html

For Fifth Grade Families . . .
1) A reminder that the Ancient Egyptian Tomb will be open all day on Thursday, March 22nd. In preparation for our big day, here are some ways that you can help:

  • Please check your child’s homework planner for important due dates for tomb-related projects.
  • If you have junk jewelry, beads, or other decorative art material we can use for our Egyptian projects, please send them in with your child as soon as possible.
  • The tomb will be set up on Wednesday, March 21st. We will need about four creative and handy volunteers to help cover Wendy’s classroom walls with craft paper, hang posters, and transform the room into a tomb. Please let us know if you’re willing and available for a few hours after school that day. We will also need a couple of volunteers to help take everything down after school on Thursday.

Middle School Sports
Schedules, permission forms and general information about Middle School sports programs can be found at http://www.lrei.org/athletics/index.html. Information is also available through the LREI Sports Hotline at 212.477.5316 x 494.

Looking Ahead . . .
On the LREI web site additional information about upcoming events can be found at http://www.lrei.org/caleven/index.html (the Middle School events page can be found at http://www.lrei.org/midschool/Events.html)

  • Tuesday, March 20, 2007, 8:15AM — MS Parent Rep. Mtg.
  • Wednesday, March 21, 2007, 6:00PM — Sixth Grade Medieval Pageant
  • Thursday, March 22, 2007 — Fifth Grade Egyptian Tomb
  • Friday, March 23, 2007 — Founder’s Day
  • Friday, March 23, 2007 — MS End of 3rd Quarter
  • Friday, March 23, 2007 — Spring Break-School closes at 12:00PM (school reopens on Monday, April 9, 2006)
  • Tuesday, April 10, 2007, 6:30PM — Fifth – Seventh Grade HS Preview Night
  • Friday, April 13, 2007, 7:00PM — Sixth Grade DISC Dance @ VCS
  • Saturday, April 14, 2007, 7:00PM — Human Rights Coffeehouse
  • Tuesday, April 17, 2007, 8:15AM — MS Parent Rep. Mtg.
  • Wednesday, April 18, 2007, 12:15PM — MS Parent-Teacher Conferences
  • Wednesday, April 18, 2007, 7:00PM — Literary Evening
  • Thursday, April 19, 2007, 6:00PM — MS POCOC Mtg.
  • Friday, April 20, 2007, 8:30AM — LS/MS Parent-Teacher Conferences-LS/MS Closed
  • Friday, April 27, 2007 — HS Arts Festival
  • Thursday, May 3 & Friday, May 4, 2007 — Middle School Art Show, Sixth Avenue Auditorium
  • Friday, May 11, 2007, 7:00PM — MS Musical
  • Saturday, May 12, 2007, 2:00PM and 7:00PM — MS Musical
  • Tuesday, May 15, 2007, 8:00AM — Eighth Grade to DC (return on Friday, May 18, 2006)
  • Tuesday, May 15, 2007, 8:15AM — MS Parent Rep. Mtg.
  • Thursday, May 17, 2007, 6:00PM — MS POCOC Mtg.
  • Friday, May 18, 2007 — Seventh Grade HS Visiting Day
  • Saturday, May 19, 2007, 7:00PM — Literary Magazine Coffeehouse
  • Monday, May 21, 2007, 6:00PM — MS Awards Night
  • Thursday, May 24, 2007 — Spring Book Sale
  • Friday, May 25, 2007 — Field Day
  • Friday, May 25, 2007 — Memorial Day Weekend-School closes at 1:00PM (school reopens on Tuesday, May 29, 2006)
  • Tuesday, June 5, 2007, 8:00AM — Sixth Grade Potluck & Poetry Breakfast
  • Wednesday, June 6, 2007, 6:00PM — Fifth Grade Grecian Festival & Potluck
  • Thursday, June 7, 2007, 8:00AM — Seventh Grade Potluck Breakfast and Constitution Works
  • Friday, June 8, 2007 — High School Graduation (regular dismissal for MS)
  • Friday, June 8, 2007 — MS End of 4th Quarter
  • Friday, June 8, 2007, 6:00PM — Eighth Grade Pre-Moving Up Party
  • Monday, June 11, 2007, 6:00PM — MS Dance
  • Tuesday, June 12, 2007, 9:00AM — Eighth Grade Moving Up
  • Tuesday, June 12, 2007 — Last Day of School, School closes at 12:00PM for all Divisions

Don’t forget to check the LREI website for updates and interesting information – http://www.lrei.org/.

Be well,

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