Principled Math

Discipleship is one of the key components of Lifestyle Education through Discipleship™, which we explain as “you follow me as I follow Christ.” The Principle Approach describes it as being a “living textbook”. This concept scares the confidence out of many parents. “I don’t know/remember any of that stuff. I don’t have time to learn it. Why can’t I just hand them a self-teaching textbook/workbook?” This is especially true in two main areas, math and language. Many parents are in complete fear that they are going to totally mess their children up by not including everything, or teaching something wrong. This attitude passes on several un-Biblical thoughts toward education, implanting in our children the same humanistic philosophies of education that were implanted into us.

Which leads us to another key component of L.E.D., Renewing Your Mind. You must be transformed in your philosophies (beliefs) about education before you can pass them on to your children. You must be a Learner to be a Teacher; and being a Learner (Disciple) is something we are called to for all of our lives. We are to model Learning to our children. We are not to just learn “spiritual things” as adults, but to continue to learn in all areas of our lives, as God’s Kingdom grows within us. For His Kingdom is His Lordship over EVERY area of our lives.

So, getting to our topic, perhaps you’re saying, “What’s Christian about math? 2 + 2 = 4 for the Christian and pagan alike. It’s just facts; there’s no philosophy to it.” Ah, not so my friend. Math is what God uses to hold our orderly Universe together. In fact, math is what gives our Universe order. Math is the language of Creation. Though atheistic or humanist educators may want you to believe otherwise, there is a deep philosophy of math that only springs from the Almighty Creator God. Math shows forth the attributes of God, and is eternal and infinite, as He is. I’ll let you begin your search is Romans 1:19-20, as I just want to lay down a foundation for you to begin thinking about how you should be teaching math.

After you renew your mind, by studying out (4 R-ing, if you will) the Biblical Foundations of Math, the Vocabulary and Principles of Math, and the PIPEline of HisStory in Math, you will have a much deeper understanding AND appreciation for math. Once you begin to see God’s hand in math, you will see wonder, not boredom in it. And you will want to share that wonder with your children. Wow, Discipleship! Far different from the attidude of, “Learn this, you’ll need it someday. Well, no, I don’t remember how to do it, I never use it.” Or perhaps you remember how to do it, but don’t have a clue how to teach it, because you only learned it by rote, on a knowledge level, without understanding or wisdom. Parent, learn it! You aren’t in the grave yet. God still expects you to be learning. There are 2 VERY good reasons for YOU to (re)learn math this way, the same reasons you are going to teach your children math this way: 1)You will come to know God better, 2) you will be better equipped to make Him known to others.

I know most of you are thinking, “But math is hard; I don’t have time;” ad nauseum (whoops, sorry). You’d be surprised at how little time you could learn the foundations to get started in this. Or maybe you’re one of the rare few that is saying, “I know and understand math. I didn’t have this way of instruction and it’s got me where I need to go in the world.” Remember, we are not educating for this world alone. We are educating for Wisdom, not just knowledge.

Let’s take a look at how we can, in Freedom & Simplicity, transform our math Learning and Teaching. A Guide to American Christian Education is probably my foundational resource for developing a Foundational Biblical Worldview of Math. A section is devoted to Arithmetic. In these 20 pages you will probably learn more about math and teaching math than all your years in school taught you; for you will be learning from whole to parts; wisdom, understanding and knowledge. You will see the interconnectedness, the Big Picture; which doesn’t look near as scarey as looking at all those unending disconnected pieces we were taught by. This along with your own Biblical study will take you through many years of teaching beginning math.

Although we also like Ruth Haycock’s Encyclopedia of Bible Truths, and The Noah Plan Mathematics Curriculum Guide, I did not find near as much Foundational and easy to use and understand information in either of those as in the A.C.E. Guide. They are both good for further study, but not necessary at first. Another facinating book, again for later as you have time, not absolutely necessary for beginning, is James Nickel’s Mathematics: Is God Silent?

In teaching you will lay the same Foundation for your children that you learned; teaching them the Biblical Foundations, Source, and Purpose for Math first. Just present what you have learned, on their level. The foundation of HisStory of Math can be presented easily, as the basics of its origin in Asia, development in Europe, and liberty in America; gradually adding more details year by year. You will lay down Foundational Vocabulary & Principles, and again, add to them as you progress. Your beginning child will have the seed that contains the whole, on their own level. And have a Biblical Understanding of Math beyond what you probably had when you began this study.
At Jesus’ feet,
Lisa
P.S. More on Principled Math, like how to actually teach it and what resources to use are in our Lifestyle Education through Discipleship: Freedom & Simplicity in Math book. (In process of being written – in pdf format for electronic purchase.)