Title: Add a Trip to Your Library and Your Skills Will Multiply
1Add a Trip to Your Library and Your Skills Will
Multiply
- Melissa Poremba
- OALT Conference
- May 9, 2009
2The Role of the Library in Supporting Numeracy
Education
3What symbol is this?
!
- Exclamation mark
- What else?
4What symbol is this?
!
- In mathematics, the factorial of a non-negative
integer n, denoted by n!, is the product of all
positive integers less than or equal to n.
(http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Factorial) - In other words
- n! n (n-1) (n-2) (n-3) (3) (2) (1)
- 6! 6 x 5 x 4 x 3 x 2 x 1
- 720
5My point?
- It is the same symbol, just viewed from different
perspective - You dont have to know the definition, just be
aware that others may see the same thing
differently
6Comments
- My background
- Audience
- School/Public/Academic
- Parents
- Library organization
- The challenge of being an LIT
- What I wont be covering
- No math lessons!
- No collection lists
- Why?
- You can do this with what you already have!
7Outline
- Background
- Rationale (why should we care)
- Role of the LIT (what can we do)
- Collection Development
- General issues
- Nonfiction
- Where one would expect math content
- Where one might not expect numeracy resources
- Fiction (my passion!)
- Literacy Numeracy Success
- Promotional Ideas
- Information Literacy
8My goal
- Increase awareness of the potential of the
library to support numeracy education - As library staff
- You have the skills, tools and resources
necessary to be an advocate for numeracy in your
library - You might simply need to see them through a
new/different lens - As patrons
- Take the ideas presented here and adapt them to
your particular situation - Inspire you to come up with more ways to
integrate numeracy into your librarys
collections and programs - Establish your library as a destination for
numeracy support and resources
9The Role of the Library in Supporting Numeracy
Education
10The foundational pillars of our education system
- The three Rs
- Reading
- Riting
- Rithmetic
- To be considered fully literate in todays
data-driven society, must be skilled in all
three - reading,
- writing
- and mathematics
11What do we normally associate libraries with?
- Literacy
- Traditional
- Reading
- Writing
- Information Literacy
- Consider the programs and services offered by
your library
12Canadian Council on LearningReading the Future
- What is literacy?
- Literacy today means much more than
- the ability to read and write. To succeed
- economically and socially, adults need
- the ability to analyze information,
- understand abstract ideas and acquire
- many other complex life skills.
- Report Resources Fact Sheet
- http//www.ccl-cca.ca/CCL/Reports/ReadingFut
ure/
13Canadian Council on LearningReading the Future
Reading the Future Full Report, page
10 http//www.ccl-
cca.ca/CCL/Reports/ReadingFuture/
http//www.ccl-cca.ca/NR/rdonlyres/7234398B-60DB-4
A4C-A7C5-ED69B0307863/0/LiteracyReadingFutureRepor
tE.PDF
14Conference Board of Canada Employability Skills
2000
http//www.conferenceboard.ca/Libraries/EDUC_PUBLI
C/esp2000.sflb
15ABC Canada
- The ability of businesses to advance their
operations and Canadas readiness to compete on
the world stage are both jeopardized if adult
workers lack the requisite literacy and numeracy
skills. - Workplace Literacy
- http//www.abc-canada.org/
16Numeracy
- The International Adult Literacy Survey defines
numeracy (math literacy) as The knowledge and
skills required to apply arithmetic operations,
either alone or sequentially, using numbers
embedded in printed material, such as balancing a
cheque book, figuring out a tip, completing an
order form or determining the amount of interest
on a loan. Numeracy, in other words, is largely
about our ability to deal with the basic
calculations in our daily lives. - Over 40 of the population has difficulty with
everyday tasks such as reading prescription
instructions or measuring volumes for household
chores. This means that approximately four out of
10 Canadians are at a basic or low numeracy
level. - ABC Canada Workplace Literacy In Brief
- http//www.abccanada.org/en/workplace_literacy/tr
aining_matters/cc2_in_brief - Note about terminology!
17Not just for mathies
- Clearly, everyone needs
- Literacy skills
- Information Literacy skills
- Numeracy skills
- Libraries have a strong role to play in
supporting all three - School
- Public
- Academic
- Math, Science, Engineering
- Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities
18Why have we not been fully embracing this role?
- Math phobia?
- Im guilty, too!
19Please
- Whether in your capacity as a library
professional, parent, teacher, or anyone with
influence on children, Im begging you, please,
please stop saying that you - Dont like math
- Cant do math
- See no need for math
- Dont understand the new math
- Etc., etc., etc.
- We would never dream of saying that about reading!
20Remember
- We dont teach reading and writing in the
library, we facilitate them - We dont have to teach math either in order to
facilitate numeracy skills development
21The Role of the Library in Supporting Numeracy
Education
22Ontario Curriculum Materials
- Ministry Documents
- Elementary http//www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curricul
um/elementary/math.html - Secondary http//www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculu
m/secondary/math.html - Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat
- http//www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/literacynumeracy/publ
ications.html - Documents in other languages
23Text books
- Mathematics instruction, even at the
post-secondary level is text book driven. - Trillium List
- http//www.curriculum.org/occ/trillium/index.shtm
l - Implications
- Kids and their parents think it is the only
resource in which mathematics is presented - We are going to change that!
24Consider the needs of your patrons
- Preschoolers
- Elementary school-aged
- Secondary school-aged
- Parents/caregivers
- Teachers/Homeschoolers
- Adult learners (GED)
- Mathies at heart! (popular interest)
- E.S.L. support (children and adults)
25What is their focus?
- Supplemental practice/reinforcement
- Enrichment
- Review/refresh/retraining
- Recreation
- Pedagogy
- General interest
26Non-FictionWhere you would expect it
- 510 Mathematics511 General principles of
mathematics512 Algebra513 Arithmetic514
Topology515 Analysis516 Geometry517
Unassigned518 Numerical analysis519
Probabilities applied mathematics
A Mobius strip, an object with only one
surface and one edge such shapes are an object
of study in topology. http//en.wikipedia.org/wik
i/Topology
From OCLC Third Summary the Thousand
Sections http//www.oclc.org/dewey/resources/summa
ries/default.htmthou
27Content approaches
- Mathematical subjects counting, shapes
patterning, fractions calculus, algebra - Biography/History (examples)
- Drill/Practice
- Word problems
- Explanations/self-teaching
- Review (test preparation)
- Pedagogical Approach
- Anxiety
- Practical/Everyday
- Recreational
- Logic
- Popular works
28Standard CD tools
- Core reference, lists
- Terminologybeyond mathematics
- Depends on level
29Reviews
- Use professional library reviewing journals and
databases for reviews of books, software, DVDs,
CDs, etc. - Academic OneFile Booklist, Resource Links
- Canadian Reference Centre Library Journal,
School Library Journal
30Collection Development
- Use standard selection tools for articles and
lists - Article Bestsellers in Mathematics
http//www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6614309.ht
ml?ridreg_visitor_idsourcetitleqmathematics - Amazon Mathematics, Teaching Methods and
Materials
Through the Eyes of a Child An Introduction to
Childrens Literature By Donna E. Norton
Using the Mathematics Literature By Kristine
Fowler
31Mathematics-focused sources
- Ontario Association for Mathematics Education
(OAME) http//www.oame.on.ca/main/index1.php?lang
encodehome - Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing
(CEMC) http//cemc.math.uwaterloo.ca/books.html - National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
(NCTM) http//www.nctm.org/publications/default.as
px?id218 - Mathematical Association of America (MAA)
http//www.maa.org/reviews/reviews_index.html - Board Numeracy consultants
- Math teachers (conferences)
32Cant afford a print subscription?
Knowledge Ontario can help!
33Goal
- Come up with a list of trusted sources,
publishers, series, authors - Use same criteria as for rest of collection
authority, reliability, currency, balance - There are difficulties
- Inconsistencies, especially in series
- Cannot see content
- Level of technical rigor required
- Try mathematic as a subject search in your
catalogue (OPL 140) - Think of the other possible related subject terms
34Issues
- Math Wars be aware!
- Discovery
- Rote/Drill Kill
- Strive for balance (examples)
- Local preferences/needs
- Canadian content it is important
- Focus on European males
- Watch for contrived storiesjust because they
say math
35Weeding
- A frequently neglected area
- Sunlink Weed of the Month
- http//www.sunlink.ucf.edu/weed/archive/math.html
- Math publishing has changed significantly in the
scant years since the first edition was released
2002. Back then, Id draw the graphs and
illustrations on paper and hope that a graphic
artist could understand what I was trying to
communicate. Now, however, I can electronically
create the illustrations myself, ensuring that
they are accurate and reliable. - Kelley, Michael, W. The Complete Idiots
Guide to Calculus. 2nd ed. New York Alpha
Books, 2006.
36Beyond print resources
- There are many different formats to support
different learning styles - Print
- Multi-media CDs, DVDs, CD-ROMs
- Subscription databases
- eBooks
- Audiobooks
- Internet
- Ensure patrons aware of all options as well as
advantages/disadvantages of each - VARIETY
37Subscription Databases
38- Articles on math anxiety
- 81 Academic OneFile
- 138 Canadian Reference Centre
- 280 eLibrary Elementary
A sample of the range of topics covered
and journals indexed on the subject
of mathematics in CPI.Q
39Related subjects for mathematics In CPI.Q
Sample book in Gale Virtual Reference Library
40Internet sites
- Portals No point re-inventing the wheel
- Canadian Mathematical Society Mathematics for
Students and Teachers - http//www.math.ca/Education/
- Discovery Education
- http//school.discoveryeducation.com/homeworkhelp/
math/web-resources.html - KidsClick!
- http//www.kidsclick.org/midmath.html
- BJ Pinchbecks Homework Helper
- http//www.bjpinchbeck.com/math.html
- Math Central
- http//mathcentral.uregina.ca/index.php
- Kathy Schrock
- http//school.discoveryeducation.com/schrockguide/
math.html
41Complementary collections
- See what local school/public/academic libraries
have - Halton District School Board
- http//chatt.hdsb.ca/StudentInternetResources/SM
- http//www.hdsb.ca/library/pages/elementaryinterne
ttools.asp - Burlington Public Library
- http//www.bpl.on.ca/kids/homework.htm
- Toronto Public Library
- http//kidsspace.torontopubliclibrary.ca/genCatego
ry15799.html - http//ramp.torontopubliclibrary.ca/secondary/scho
olstuff/homeworkhelp/helpwithmath/three-content.js
p - Toronto District School Board
- http//www.tdsb.on.ca/libraries/Links.asp?schoolNo
9catId35 - Mutual promotion
42Academic Libraries
- Subject Guides
- University of Waterloo http//www.lib.uwaterloo.
ca/discipline/math/ - York University http//www.library.yorku.ca/ccm/
rg/jd/math - Ryerson University http//www.ryerson.ca/library
/subjects/math/print.html - Collection Development Policies
- York University http//www.library.yorku.ca/ccm/
Home/About/CollPolicies/mathematicsandstatistics.h
tm
43For visual learners
- Free online resources
- http//school.discoveryeducation.com/homeworkhelp/
math/math_homework_help.html (N.B. This
collection of online videos can be accessed
through the Discovering Collection database by
clicking on the Streaming Video icon.) - http//www.mathtv.com/
- http//www.teachertube.com/
- http//www.youtube.com/user/videomathtutor
- Obviously need to warn patrons about exercising
caution when using web resources
44Organize the resources
- Bookmarking
- Add an additional layer to your list of web
links through use of folksonomies/tagging - Delicious
- Site Jot
45BiblioCommons at OPL!
- http//opl.bibliocommons.com/lists/show/68263908_m
elissapowl - It has anticipated needs in library service that
I didn't even know I had and now will not be able
to live without tagging ratings comments
reviews summaries adding videos linking to
relevant sites creating, accessing and sharing
lists and opinions with others of similar
tastes...not to mention nuances in searching and
refinements in results that are simply not
possible with other OPACs. - http//www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6579748.ht
ml
46Non-fictionWhere you would expect it
- 510 Mathematics
- 372 Elementary education
- 373 Secondary education
- 640 Home family management
-
- 793 Indoor games amusements795 Games of chance
47Non-FictionWhere you might not expect it
- We all use math every day! (NUMB3RS)
- Cross-curricular connections
- Make every class a math class!
- http//opl.bibliocommons.com/list/show/68263908_me
lissapowl/68551806_math_-_where_you_might_not_expe
ct_it - Create a database (wiki or web page)
48Non-FictionWhere you might not expect it
Mathworks! Series Gareth Stevens Publishing
49American Mathematical Society
- Math in the Media Reviews
- Contains pointers to reviews of books, plays,
movies and television shows that are related to
mathematics (but are not aimed solely at the
professional mathematician) - http//www.ams.org/ams/reviews.html
Group Theory in the Bedroom and Other
Mathematical Diversions By Brian Hayes
50Yes, even there!
- Product DescriptionMathematical craftwork has
become extremely popular, and mathematicians and
crafters alike are fascinated by the relationship
between their crafts. The focus of this book,
written for mathematicians, needleworkers, and
teachers of mathematics, is on the relationship
between mathematics and the fiber arts (including
knitting, crocheting, tatting, and quilting).
Each chapter starts with an overview of the
mathematics and the needlework at a level
understandable to both mathematicians and
needleworkers, followed by more technical
sections discussing the mathematics, how to
introduce the mathematics in the classroom
through needlework, and how to make the
needlework project, including patterns and
instructions.
Making Mathematics with Needlework Ten Papers
and Ten Projects By Sarah-Marie Belcastro,
Carolyn Yackel
51Trade books
- There is a movement to use such trade books more
frequently in teaching mathematics - Hunsader, Patricia D. "Mathematics trade books
establishing their - value and assessing their quality." The Reading
Teacher 57.7 (April - 2004) 618(12). CPI.Q (Canadian
Periodicals). Gale. SOLS - Oakville Public Library. 3 May
2009 lthttp//find.galegroup.comgt.
52Not sure where to start?
- Textbooks chapter introductions, sidebars
- Authors of popular math books Theoni Pappas,
Ian Stewart, Martin Gardner, Calvin C. Clawson,
Clifford A. Pickover, Keith Devlin
Ziauddin Sardar
53Where else?
54Add a Trip to Your Library and Your Skills Will
Multiply
55Picture books, of course
- Counting, shapes, time, size, patterns,
56For elementary students
The Lions Share A Tale of Halving Cake and
Eating It, Too By Matthew Mcelligott
Jayden's Rescue By Vladimir Tumanov Keep a pencil
handy to solve the puzzles in this fantasy.
- http//opl.bibliocommons.com/list/show/68263908_me
lissapowl/68544873_mathematically_speaking_-_ficti
on
- Library Booklists Math in Childrens Fiction
http//librarybooklists.org/fiction/children/jmath
.htm
57For older students and adults
58For older students and adults
Jessicas Guide to Dating on the Dark Side By
Beth Fantaskey
- Gr 7 Up--Jessica Packwood is a normal teen
attending Woodrow Wilson High School. Her
mathematical nature has even given her a slightly
geeky reputation, which is about to change with
the arrival of Lucius Vladescu, who seems to be
stalking her. She tells her mother about him and
learns that she is really a Romanian vampire
princess who has been betrothed to Lucius at
birth. She knew she was adopted, but this
revelation comes as a shock. - Rosenblum, Donna. "Fantaskey, Beth. Jessica's
Guide to Dating on the Dark Side.(Young adult
review)(Brief article)(Book review)." School
Library Journal 55.3 (March 2009) 144(1). Academi
c OneFile. Gale. SOLS - Oakville Public
Library. 1 May 2009 lthttp//find.galegroup.com/it
x/start.do?prodIdAONEgt.
Hmmmwhat does this remind you of?!
59For older students and adults
- Mysteries for Mathematical Minds
- http//opl.bibliocommons.com/list/show/68263908_me
lissapowl/68527073_mysteries_for_mathematical_mind
s - Mental Math
- http//opl.bibliocommons.com/list/show/68263908_me
lissapowl/68547883_mental_math
60Historical Fiction
The French Mathematician By Tom
Petsinis (Evariste Galois)
The Parrot's Theorem By Denis Guedi (History of
mathematics)
61Classic Flatland
- Flatland A Romance of Many Dimensions by Edwin
A. Abbott
Can also obtain through Project
Gutenberg http//www.gutenberg.org/etext/201
Annotated by Ian Stewart
Animated movie http//www.imdb.com/title/tt0814106
/
62The Best Web Site!
- Mathematical Fiction maintained by Alex Kasman
of the College of Charleston - http//kasmana.people.cofc.edu/MATHFICT/
63Dont forget the databases
- Novelist Plus
- What do I read next?
- Explain the difference between math and
mathematic to patrons
64Create your own database of mathematical
literature
- Wiki or web site (ie.Google Sites) for students
to contribute instances where mathematical
concepts present in reading material - Non-fiction
- Fiction
- Tagging, comments, ratings, related links
65The Role of the Library in Supporting Numeracy
Education
- Literacy Numeracy Success
66Literacy and Numeracy Together
- Teachers/parents short on time
- Combine lessons
- Story Problems
- Research supports theory
What If Your ABCs Were Your 123s? Building
Connections Between Literacy and Numeracy By
Leslie Minton
67Preschoolers
- Storytime
- Keep doing what you are already doing
- Make storytime meaningful to all types of
learners - Counting, shapes, patterns, time,
- Do not have to focus strictly on numbers
- Try to integrate
- Mother Goose and Fairy Tales
68Its that simple!?!
- A hundred years ago, researchers in logic
discovered that virtually all of the concepts
used by working mathematicians could be reduced
to one of two extremely basic operations, namely,
the operation of counting or the operation of
grouping objects into sets. Most people are able
to perform both of these operations before they
enter kindergarten. (p. 57) - Mighton, John. The Myth of Ability Nurturing
Mathematical Talent in Every Child. Toronto
Anansi, 2003.
69Marilyn Burns
Math and Literature series Math and Nonficton
series http//www.mathsolutions.com/index.cfm?page
wp18contentid112crid97mcrid108
Chart of childrens literature featured in Math
Solutions Publications series http//www.mathsolut
ions.com/documents/lessons_chart-2.pdf
EVERY SCHOOL BOARD SHOULD OWN THIS SET!
70More resources
Connecting Math with Literature Using Children's
Literature as a Springboard for Teaching Math
Concepts Grades 3-6 By Lisa Crooks
Literature-Based Math Activities An Integrated
Approach By Alison Abrohms
Math Links Teaching the NCTM 2000 Standards
Through Children's Literature By Evans, Leija,
Falkner
Some of these are dated but you may still have
the referenced books in your collection
Math Through Children's Literature By Braddon,
Hall, Taylor
71Try to preview
72Lots of supporting information
- Databases
- Set up Alert/RSS feed
- Binder of articles
- Internet
- The Math Forum _at_ Drexel
- Literature and Mathematics http//mathforum.org/t
2t/faq/faq.lit.html
73Academic libraries
- Particularly those with a Faculty of Education
- Print and electronic (i.e. ERIC)
Many teachers taking AQ courses do not realize
they may have access
74A few more to consider
Check out books by David J. Whitin, Phyllis
Whitin and Sandra Wilde
How to Use Childrens Literature to Teach
Mathematics By Rosamond Welchman-Tischler
Literature-based activities for integrating
mathematics with other content areas By Robin A.
Ward
75Add a Trip to Your Library and Your Skills Will
Multiply
76Quote from Stephen Hawking
- Yet the basic ideas about the origin and fate of
the universe can be stated without mathematics in
a form that people without a scientific education
can understand. This is what I have attempted to
do in this book.Someone told me that each
equation I included in the book would halve the
sales. I therefore resolved not to have any
equations at all. In the end, however, I did put
in one equation, Einsteins famous equation,
Emc2. (Acknowledgements) - Hawking, S. W. A Brief History of Time From the
Big Bang to Black Holes. Toronto Bantam Books,
1988.
77Numeracy _at_ Your LibraryYou can count on us!
- We promote reading and literacy programs so why
not numeracy? - Library staff know about the resources they carry
to support numeracy, the problem is that their
patrons dont! - We need to change that and encourage patrons to
come to the library for mathematics resources
78Displays and Book Talks
- The simplest and probably most powerful way to
connect - Fiction
- Nonfiction
- Direct theme
- Media theme
- Numbers in the News
- Staff Picks
79You never know who you will inspire!
- When I was quite young, I believe no older than
11, I came across two books that would determine
how I thought about mathematics for the next 20
years, until, at the age of 31, I found the
confidence to return to school and start a degree
in the subject. One book was a collection of
science fiction from the local library. It
contained a story about two children who
construct a Mobius strip that enables them, by a
process I unfortunately cant recall, to travel
in time.Though I havent reread the short story
since I was a child, I would be surprised if it
was well written, and even more surprised if the
mathematics behind it was sound. But the story
awoke a greater sense of wonder than I have felt
reading anything since from it I gained the
conviction that mathematics was a magical subject
that would allow me, once I had mastered it, to
transcend the everyday. (9) - Mighton, John. The Myth of Ability Nurturing
Mathematical Talent in Every Child. Toronto
Anansi, 2003. - Mathematician, author (The Myth of Ability, The
End of Ignorance), playwright (Governor Generals
Literary Award for Drama), actor (Good Will
Hunting), educator (JUMP) http//jumpmath.org/a
bout/mighton
80Reading Programs
Math teacher picked it up because thought it was
about pgot him reading!
- DEAR, DIRT, SSR
- My story
- Read-alouds for older students
- Dont forget the Mathematical Fiction site!
- http//kasmana.people.cofc.edu/MATHFICT/
Charlesbridge
81100th Day of School
- Books
- Sites
- http//mathcentral.uregina.ca/RR/database/RR.09.95
/danylczuk1.html - http//www.2learn.ca/mapset/enjoy/100days/100days.
asp - http//www.gecdsb.on.ca/dg/100thday.htm
82Pi Day (March 14 3.14)
- Books
- Sites
- http//www.piday.org/
- http//www.edhelper.com/pi_day.htm?gclidCLaH6druq
poCFQENDQodoUPuzg - http//www.exploratorium.edu/pi/
- Also Einsteins birthday!
83Theres Nothing in the Library!
- Books about zero and/or nothing
Book Lust by Nancy Pearl includes a chapter
entitled Zero This Will Mean Nothing to
You The Hole in the Universe by K. C. Cole The
Book of Nothing Vacuums, Voids, and the Latest
Ideas About the Origins of the Universe by John
D. Barrow Zero The Biography of a Dangerous
Number by Charles Seife The Nothing That Is A
Natural History of Zero by Robert Kaplan
84Take Your Chances _at_ the Library!
- Games day learn about probability, statistics,
game theory, logic puzzles
85World Math Day
- http//www.worldmathday.com/
- World Math Day Video Challenge (Teacher Tube)
- http//www.teachertube.com/video.php?categorymvc
hid77 - Be the driving, coordinating force just as for
Family Literacy Day (http//www.abc-canada.org/en/
family_literacy/family_literacy_day) - In Australia, the government sponsors a combined
National Literacy and Numeracy Week - http//www.literacyandnumeracy.gov.au/
- Real World Math Contest (Teacher Tube Texas
Instruments)
86Math is Beautiful
- Tesselations (Escher)
- Origami
- Read about Eric Demaine (Canadian now at MIT)
- http//mathforum.org/library/results.html?stylepo
wertextsearchorigami - Quilting
- Fractals
- Golden Ratio/Divine Proportion
- http//www.mcs.surrey.ac.uk/Personal/R.Knott/Fibon
acci/fibInArt.html - Dont forget the databases!
-
87Double the Fun
- Dress up as twins
- Books about the number 2 and/or multiplying by 2
- Books with two in the title
88The Power of One
- Most obvious link is to topic of bullying
One By Kathryn Otoshi
89Youve Heard About New Math Now How About Old
Math!
90Only in Canada, eh!
- Some very inspiring stories
- John Charles Fields
- Donald Coxeter
- John Mighton
- Eric Demaine
- Kim Rossmo
Dont forget the databases!
- http//opl.bibliocommons.com/list/show/68263908_me
lissapowl/68573781_math_in_canada,_eh - http//www.yorku.ca/sinclair/Ontario20researchers
2006.htm
91School-wide activities
- Harmer, Mike. By the Numbers. The Booster,
April 22, 2009. (Supplement to the Oakville
Beaver)
92Promotions
- Presentation and/or display
- Parents Night
- Family Literacy events
- Summer Reading promos
- Bookmarks
- Pathfinders
- Pamphlets
- Print
- Electronic
- Outreach visits
Literacy Numeracy _at_ Your Library
93Add a Trip to Your Library and Your Skills Will
Multiply
94Professional resources
- Think literacy
- Mathematics Subject-Specific examples
- Grades 7 9 http//www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/students
uccess/thinkliteracy/files/ThinkLitMath.pdf - Grades 10 12 http//www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/studen
tsuccess/thinkliteracy/files/ThinkLitMath10_12.pdf
- OSLAs Information Studies
- http//www.accessola.com/action/positions/info_stu
dies/html/toc.html
Importance of learning to read nonfiction, too.
95Numeracy Information Literacy
- Libraries are fundamentally organized on
mathematical principles - When teaching patrons/students to use the
resources of the library, are frequently teaching
numeracy skills implicitly
96Remember
- Some of these activities may leave the shelves in
a shambles, but they are well worth it if
patrons/students gain exposure to the collection
and find something that they would like to borrow
97Dewey Decimal System
- Base 10 number system 10 then 10 then 10
- Arrange books in numerical order place value,
greater than, less than - Every time you train a page or explain to a
student how to locate a book using call numbers,
you are teaching math! - Evaluate expressions involving decimals and
search for items with corresponding Dewey numbers - Take several books and perform operations with
their Dewey numbers - Organize scavenger hunt matching math question
answers to call numbers - Dewey Decimal Sudoku in School Library Media
Activities Monthly - http//www.schoollibrarymedia.com/articles/Montgom
ery2007v23n10.html
98Physical Books
- How many numbers can you find on/in a book?
(ISBN, price, pages, chapters, reading level,
date, Dewey number, edition, etc.) - What did we gain by switching to ISBN-13?
- Reference collection is excellent place to study
concept of relative size as biggest books
usually located there. What does biggest book
mean? - Use duplicate copies and Big Books (read aloud
size) to demonstrate similar and congruent
99Search Engine/Database Math
- Explore links between search limiters/expanders
and mathematical operations - See Search Engine Math article
http//searchenginewatch.com/2156021 - Google Better Searches Better Results tip sheet
- www.google.com/librariancenter/downloads/Tips_Tri
cks_85x11.pdf - Boolean operators and Venn diagrams for designing
searches
From http//cs-people.bu.edu/behoppe/videos/venn
20diagram.bmp
100Patterning
- Collection can be categorized based on many
attributes (hardcover/soft-cover,
fiction/nonfiction, reference/circulating, etc.) - Arrange selection of books into various patterns
based on attributes - Overlap with Venn diagrams
101Physical Collection
- Ratio problems proportion of collection in
various genres, formats, etc. compare with
number of shelves in various genres - Rate problems if purchase books at rate x and
weed at rate y . . . - Estimation number of items in collection what
information would you need? - Problem solving what information would you need
to calculate the approximate value of the books
in the collection? - Have students graph findings of proportions
102Sample application
- Activity Book Drive
- Sort books fiction, non-fiction, picture books
- Tally books in each category
- Use Excel to make chart and graph
- Submit to newsletter
103OPAC
- Learn to use OPAC features by answering questions
such as - How many books do we have by Robert Munsch?
- How many items that come up under a keyword
search for bears are fiction? - What is the oldest book we have on the subject of
mathematics? - How could I find out the average age of a portion
of the collection? - Explain that all electronic resources are founded
upon the binary number system - What other subject headings might be used
104Databases
- Mathematics articles in the databases
- 30 journals in Academic OneFile on subject of
mathematics including Teaching Children
Mathematics, Mathematics Education Research
Journal and Journal of Mathematics Teacher
Education - Dont forget CBCA and Canadian Reference Centre
- Popular
- Pedagogical
- Technical
- A fantastic way to attract the attention of
teachers! - Alerts, RSS feeds
- Send to staff meetings/put in mailboxes
105Comment on working with teachers
- Elementary
- Secondary
- Math Web Resources for Intermediate and Secondary
- http//www.cla.ca/casl/slic/261mathwebsources.html
106Research strategy parallels
From OSLAs Information Studies
Zimmer, David, et al. Mathematics of Data
Management. Scarborough, ON Nelson, 2002. (page
viii)
107Statistics Canada, E-Stat
Culminating Activities
108Discussion topics for older students/adults
- Zero
- Is it something or is it nothing?
- Think of terminology utilizing zero
- History of zero it really is fascinating!
- Card Counting
- Is it cheating or the application of statistical
principles to a game of chance? - Whats in a name?
- Books with mathematical words in title
- Great way to practice searching catalogue
- Did you want to read these books or not?
109Discussion topics for older students/adults
- Euro-centric approach to mathematics education,
especially history of mathematics - Concept of infinity as presented in The Tortoise
and the Hare - Contemporary discussions about the power of
numbers
110Discussion topics for older students/adults
- Reference to Pi in the Bible
- Try Google this topic for an excellent
discussion on the objectivity, reliability,
authority of Web sites
Pi in the Old Testament And he made a molten
sea, ten cubits from the one brim to the other
it was round all about, and his height was five
cubits and a line of thirty cubits did compass
it about. (I Kings 7, 23)
111Sample activity
- The Math Forum _at_ Drexel Mr. Brandenburg's Math
and Science-Related Books You Can Read - Mr. Brandenburg compiled a list of about 80
math-related books, mostly recent, for his
geometry students to choose from, read, and do a
report on, using recommendations from others and
his own reading as well. Following is the
assignment he gave to his students and also the
list with links to Amazon.com. - http//mathforum.org/t2t/faq/brandenburg.html
112Just because its fun
(Coming in the fall)
Rememberthere are those who sincerely enjoy
these books!
113Discussion topics for older students/adults
- Mathematicians and mental illness
- http//opl.bibliocommons.com/list/show/68263908_me
lissapowl/68547883_mental_math - Alex Kasmans course great book club idea!
- Depictions of math teachers
- Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
- (2009 Pulitzer Prize winner)
114Dodecahedron or A Frame for Frames by Paul Glennon
- Regular dodecahedron a polyhedron (solid with
plane faces) with 12 faces, each of which is a
regular pentagon - Finalist, 2006 Governor Generals Award for
Fiction
115Add a Trip to Your Library and Your Skills Will
Multiply
- For information professionals
116Of interest to library staff
- The Library at Night by Alberto Manguel
- Chapter on The Library as Shape (p 129 161)
- Discussion of the geometric patterns of the
Laurentian Librarys tile floor designed by
Michelangelo http//ralph.cs.cf.ac.uk/papers/Geo
metry/Laurentian.pdf - Google
- googol 10 100 misspelled as google
- Larry Page Frog and Toad
- Alice in Wonderland
- Lewis Carroll Charles Lutwidge Dodgson gt Euclid
and His Modern Rivals gt First Wikipedia logo - Lord Byron gt Ada Lovelace gt Charles Babbage
(difference engine, analytical engine) gt Ada
programming language - http//www-history.mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographie
s/Lovelace.html - Bookmaking
- Quarto, octavo
117Of interest to library staff
- Hypatia 6 entries for her in Discovering
Collection - Eratosthenes
- Through his energetic directorship, Eratosthenes
helped make the Library of Alexandria the
greatest repository of learning in the
Mediterranean world, and his varied contributions
made him the most versatile scholar and scientist
of the third century B.C. - Chambers, James T. "Eratosthenes of Cyrene (c.
285 B.C.-c. 205 B.C.)." DISCovering World
History. Online ed. Detroit Gale, 2003.
Discovering Collection. Gale. SOLS - Oakville
Public Library. 8 May. 2009 lthttp//find.galegroup
.comgt. - Dewey blog
- Mathematical or not? June 20, 2006
- http//ddc.typepad.com/025431/ddc_mappings_from_lc
sh/ - Catherine Sheldrick Ross
- Former Dean, Faculty of Information Studies,
University of Western Ontario
Foreword
118Pop Quiz!
- Annos Mysterious Multiplying Jar
- By Misumasa Anno
5! ?
Where can you find resources to support numeracy
education in your library?
119Add a Trip to Your Library and Your Skills Will
Multiply
- Divide and conquer!
- Go forth and multiply!
-