ES de San Diego usa pipoca para ensinar matemática

Why a middle school outside San Diego is using popcorn to teach math By Bill Gates | October 3, 2023 For my entire life, it’s been widely cited as Americans’ “least favorite subject,” and more students here flunk algebra than any other course. That has ramifications far beyond the classroom, because math is more than just a number—much more. It’s used in a wide range of careers today, not just STEM ones, from business and finance to graphic design and hospitality. Studies also show that students who finish algebra by the end of ninth grade are likelier to go to college and get well-paid jobs, while those who fail it only have a one-in-five chance of finishing high school. At Chula Vista Middle School, a few miles from the border outside San Diego, the math department is tackling this issue head-on. They don’t buy into the narrative that students can’t keep up with what is being taught in math class; instead, they believe that what is traditionally taught in math class hasn’t kept up with students. So the school is modernizing its math curriculum in novel ways—like incorporating popcorn into instruction and asking students about their McDonald’s orders, along with other (non-food-related) strategies that help increase their sense of belonging and build their confidence. I got to spend the day in Chula Vista back in April, and I’ve been excited to tell you about it—and why it made me hopeful for a future where more people develop a love for math like mine—ever since. You can read all about it on my blog now. Thanks for being an Insider.

..