My Math Journey

Ballerina, fashion designer, actress – these were my dreams. I craved creativity, pouring myself into dance, art, and anything that sparked imagination. But math? That was a different story.

I was always curious about the "why" behind the math. When I asked, I was told things like, 'Math is not to reason why...' 'Just follow the steps.' My curiosity was stifled. I bought into the narrative that I just wasn't a math person. 

My first memorable success with math was in 4th grade when we had to pass timed multiplication tests. (I know many will think that this aligns more with 3rd grade rather than 4th. However, 4th grade was my first year to swap classes and I vividly remember that year.) 

I was a fantastic memorizer. I attribute this to my parents putting me in pageants starting at 6 months old. As I aged, the pageants I entered had a talent component. My talent was singing and dancing.  I was memorizing Shirley Temple's song and dance numbers on a regular basis. 

I realized that all I had to be able to do to pass these timed tests was memorize, nothing else. I found so much joy in passing the tests and watching my row on the sticker chart fill up. I was very competitive and determined to be the first one to get to the end of the chart. I still remember the amazing feeling of success when I was the first to finish and was awarded a "Math Wiz" ribbon to wear for the day. Sadly, the feeling did not last. Once I started middle school, I was quickly reminded that math was not for people like me.

If someone would have told me that I wouldn't be a ballerina, a fashion designer, or an actress, but would have a career in mathematics, I would have laughed and told them they had the wrong person. Yet, here I am- a career in mathematics and absolutely loving it. So, what happened?

Fast forward to college. I started off in journalism – a blend of creativity and performance. But something shifted and I decided to pursue a career in education. My introduction to teaching class ignited a passion. However, the biggest turning point for me was my elementary mathematics course.  

Manipulatives transformed abstract concepts into tangible realities. Questions weren't just about finding the 'right' answer; they were invitations to explore, to discover. I saw the patterns, the creativity, the beauty of mathematical thinking.

Math wasn't just about rules; it was about discovery, about creating solutions. Suddenly, I understood. I was a math person.

Now, I'm on a mission to share this revelation and help others see that we are all math people. This blog is my platform – a space to celebrate the creativity of math, to share K-5 math resources, and to inspire others to embrace the joy of mathematical exploration."