Appendix to Davina's Story

Sometimes life brings little treasures which remind you why you keep teaching. Davina's story actually resulted in three little treasures - short term, medium term, long term.

Short Term

I've gotta tell you what this kid said to me this morning!

That kid's smart. I want her in my class next year.

Medium Term

I'll liked being in your class last year.
That's nice Davina, why was that?
Because you taught me to think.

Long Term

One day I was in the garden when a young lady I vaguely recognised walked past exercising her dog. Davina was now 19 years old and training to be a nurse. I had told her story many times at professional development sessions, so once we each worked out who the other was the conversation went as follows. Cross my heart and hope to die, this is almost verbatim.

Davina, you'll probably think I am stupid, but I have to ask you this. How would you work out 137 - 48?

This is to do with the blocks isn't it. … I would use a calculator. But Davina didn't have one at that moment. … Well 2 makes 50 and 50 more makes 100 and then you add on 37.

Yep. Do you remember once that I asked you what you would do if you didn't have the blocks?

No.

Well you said that you would put a picture of them in your head.

That'd be right. I still do that now.

What do you mean? Do you still picture the blocks? Your way of working out that subtraction just now was the same as counting what was left uncovered when you put the big one down first and the smaller one on top of it.

No, I remember the blocks, but I don't think of them when I do maths. I said I would use a calculator, but I do bigger sums than this one when I work at the movie theatre on the weekend. It's easier when I have the coins and I can see what I am doing.

You know, you're wonderful. There are lots of people like you who learn by seeing in their mind, but maths education lets them down when the only picture they are shown is symbols.

I thought I was different to everyone else. Pictures are the way I do everything. Even now when I am studying I draw pictures next to my notes. Then in the exam I close my eyes and see the picture, then I can see the notes with it. Like in psychology we have to learn hundreds of mental disorders - well it seems like hundreds. I put a picture next to them. So for a disorder where a person loves themselves I draw a little mirror to remind me that they are always looking at their reflection.

And you have had to work that strategy out for yourself. I love the way you have always used your brains. But we all need a little help along the way. I wonder how many kids have decided they are no good at maths because they have never been helped to use brain pictures?

From The Email

Thank you so much for posting me the information on the blocks and math calculations. I am sorry that I have not caught up with you when I have been passing, but uni has been keeping me very busy, as usual. Your work is very interesting, I am thrilled that I have made a contribution to it. I was also very excited to know that the way I used those blocks to solve maths problems may hopefully help many children learn with greater ease and to a greater capacity. Once again thank you for the information.
Regards Davina