#mathmommy

[nv-rivera]

#nerdalert yes, that was me jumping out of my skin with joy seeing THE NUMBER DEVIL laid out prominently on a MATH THEMED table @bnstatenisland this afternoon. I know the book is fairly well circulated in classrooms these days, but when I first shared it with my students at Curtis it was basically unheard of and I thought (and still believe) that it was pure magic. Perhaps it’s time for me to do a re-read! #mathlove #mathchicklife #mathmommy https://www.instagram.com/p/CdJvPJnrUbH/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[nv-rivera]

Alex is having a math test today. Last night his teacher sent home a sheet that looked exactly like this, but she had filled in all of the answers. Message I received: Alex couldn’t do any of this so she sent it home with answers so we could review it. I saw it and said, “Hey Alex, I can totally help you with this. This is exactly what I used to teach.” [By the way, I want that to sink in for everyone. What I was teaching ninth graders ten years ago is being taught to my second grader.] He said, “You can?” I said, “I am so good at this you aren’t even going to believe it!” We had some stuff to do yesterday, so we were running around a lot and I totally forgot about the stupid math. It was just about bath time when I realized we hadn’t done it yet, so I quickly whipped up this sheet, almost identical to his teacher’s, and I had him sit down next to me and answer all the questions. He had some questions and a couple of confusions, but they were easy enough to get through (I mean, these are line plots, after all.) When we finished he put his pencil down, turned to me and said, “Mommy, you are the best math teacher I ever had.” You know that’s when I cried, right? I am a very lucky lady. #momlife #mathmommy https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ1pNe4LAi0/?utm_medium=tumblr

[nv-rivera]

Former students, this is another one for you. The math-torture for me continues. Alex is watching a show that is talking about symmetry (might have been Team Umizoomi or Blaze, I’m not even keeping track anymore) and all of a sudden he paused the show and shouts, “Let’s go Mommy! We have to find things around the house that have symmetry!” I immediately think, “WHY ME?” And then a voice inside responds, “You know exactly why. You did this to them. You were just as excited about this. This is what they felt like. They were just chillin’ and you demanded math enthusiasm. You now have the empathy…” It was that realization that gave me my inspiration: I went to the blackboard. Luckily, he was appeased with this singular symmetric find… this time. I don’t know how math enthusiasm is passed through the blood, but clearly it is and that makes it weirdly magical, even when it is inconvenient. #mathmommy #momlife https://www.instagram.com/p/CZu8R5KLzL3/?utm_medium=tumblr

[nv-rivera]

“Hey Mommy, it’s time for your homework!” I am always tempted to tell him this isn’t exactly how it works, that kids don’t randomly make their mothers math worksheets for them to complete with wildly creative characters and character names, but I don’t. Because how is this any more random than the grown ups throwing uninvited assignments at him all through the week? If I say no, or complain, or don’t sit here and struggle through understanding the problem proposed, then what am I modeling? Never mind how impressed I am that he puts these things together, prints them out and all without a single question for me or his dad. It’s weird. It’s wonderful. It’s a little snapshot of life with my Alex. And it’s one of those things that causes me to step back and say, “Whoa. There I am in that human.” What an incredible experience motherhood is. #mathmommy #momlife https://www.instagram.com/p/CYzMELfLAe0/?utm_medium=tumblr

[nv-rivera]

I was in the middle of hosting a recorded Zoom call to be aired on my YouTube channel when the printer (right next to my mic) explodes with sound and spits a paper with a Numberblock on it. I mute myself and yell out to my son, “Your paper printed!” He then says, “That’s your homework for after your meeting!” I deserve this. Former students, I do not know what kinds of spells you cast, but if there was any payment involved it is probably time to settle your debts! #momlife #mathmommy #mathteacherskid https://www.instagram.com/p/CVWlg2_sYn8/?utm_medium=tumblr

[nv-rivera]

Yeah... and what do YOU do when your kid finally takes a nap after keeping you up until 3am?? #momlife #mathmommy #circlegraph #mandmmath #mathsnacks