Teaching Math With Examples by Michael Pershan

Teaching Math With Examples by Michael Pershan

We want our students to know that learning is as important a goal as problem solving in mathematics. Failing to solve a problem but learning something from studying the solution is not a failure at all.
Because understanding a new idea is itself a creative process, as mathematically impressive as discovering it in the first place. And it's also just as valuable - mathematics needs people who are able to learn challenging ideas with depth.
If what we mainly value is problem solving, studying a solution is just giving up. But if we value achieving mathematical understanding, we can see the studying of a solution for what it is: a core mathematical act.
And that's why studying mathematical examples is so valuable.

Michael Pershan began his career in 2010 at a high school in New York City where he taught mathematics and computer science. Since then he has taught at St Ann's School in Brooklyn, where he teaches math to elementary, middle, and high school students, and at Bridge to Enter Advanced Mathematics's summer camp for underserved students.
He has taught a course for teachers at Math for America, organized math education conferences, and helped create research-informed curriculum for Mathalicious, Amplify Education and M.I.T.'s Teaching Systems Lab.
He and his family live in NYC..