Out, Standing in Their Fields

When we first had the idea of creating an issue for “field-based math,” we thought of the kinds of math skills that are necessary while doing fieldwork, and thus intri- cately linked with science studies. Collecting data, analyzing results, deciding how to report information, and representing it all seemed to fall into the realm of essen- tial mathematics applied in the course of a unit of study. As article submissions began arriving, however, it was obvious that the “fields”

in which elementary studies occur are actually quite varied. The school kitchen could be a field, or the field might exist in an indoor terrarium under grow lights. Perhaps the field was really an area of consideration that traversed time, like the exploration of the history of fractions. In some cases, it wasn’t that the class was studying something outdoors that required math, but that the class was studying math and the outdoors was far preferable (and more instructive) than stay- ing indoors with pencil and paper. These articles reflect the diverse ways in which

Students at a Brattleboro, Vermont, school prepare quiche using garden ingredients.

specific mathematical ideas and processes can be integrated with many topics. They tell stories in which students have high motivation to engage in mastering and understanding skills because the skills are immediately applied to a project or study. We feel that they represent the work of teachers and students who are, well, outstanding in their fields! —Heather Taylor

Connect

Editor: Heather Taylor

Circulation: Susan Hathaway

Design and Production: Judy Wingerter

Synergy Learning Executive Director: Casey Murrow

™ published by SYNERGY LEARNING INTERNATIONAL™

Connect offers a wide range of practical, teacher-written articles in five thematic issues through the school year. Each issue supports problem solving, inquiry, and multidisciplinary approaches to learning.

Connect (ISSN: 1041-682X) is published online, September, November, January, March, and May. Publisher: Synergy Learning International, Inc., PO Box 60, Brattleboro, VT 05302. Tel. 800-769-6199. Fax: 802-254-5233. Email: Connect@SynergyLearning.org.

©2011 by Synergy Learning International, Inc. Published as a non-profit service. All rights reserved. Special permission is required to reproduce in any manner, in whole or in part, the material contained herein. Call 800-769-6199 for reprint permission information.

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Back Issues: Available for many of the print issues up to December, 2009. See the Synergy Learning website for details on back issues and on our extensive archive.

Photo credit for front cover: Casey Murrow

Synergy Learning International, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, engaged in publishing and professional development for educators, pre-K to middle school. We are dedicated to supporting schools, teachers, and families with challenging science, math, and technology learning for children.

meredith wade