Geometry Proofs: Junk or Gems?
Posted on October 19, 2008
Filed Under General Interest, Helping Parents Help Kids, Imagination, Improve Your Skills, Learning Tips, Math, Teaching Tips |
Are geometry proofs Junk or Gems?
High school students taking geometry, including the new NYS Regents Geometry Course, will be doing lots of geometry proofs.
“When will I ever use this junk?” will almost certainly cross their minds.
The answer is “probably never,” which clearly favors the “junk” designation in the title.
Then why make kids go through the ordeal?
The answer is that learning to do geometry proofs is a brain-boosting activity which helps make children’s brains better, permanently better!
How?
Doing geometry proofs requires the brain to operate in new and complex ways, using seldom-used brain “real estate,” thus forming and reinforcing complex brain connections. Once developed, these neural connections remain, ready to “jump into action” in real-life situations, long after “CPCTC” has faded into mental oblivion.
Here are a few of the many thought juggling mental activities required when doing geometry proofs.
Organization. Doing proofs requires organization, requiring the brain to cultivate and improve neural paths in the executive function area. This involves sorting the given information, making diagrams, labeling, and keeping track of the progress throughout the task.
Logical thinking. Doing proofs requires logical thinking, a mental process that is rarely well developed in the younger high school students. The act of doing proofs provides a fine opportunity to develop, or improve upon, this valuable higher order thinking process.
Self-discipline. The mental and physical tasks required when doing proofs, e.g. making diagrams from sentences and symbols, planning, carrying out and coordinating all of the required activities, are unnatural, tedious, and difficult for many students. As a result, the students tend to develop a greater self-discipline.
Thus, doing geometry proofs is a “gem” of an activity because it is good for the brain; it helps make young brains better, permanently better!
So, contrary to Pink Floyd’s “Hey! Teachers! Leave them kids alone!” philosophy, espoused in their 1979 song “Another Brick in the Wall,” leaving kid’s brains alone would be a big mistake. Doing so would seriously compromise children’s brain development.
Consider passing this message on to the kids: Hey! Kids! Don’t forget to do your math homework, especially if it includes geometry proofs.
~Dr. Al, from the team Linda Silbert & Al Silbert,
authors of the award winning book Why Bad Grades Happen to Good Kids
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2 Responses to “Geometry Proofs: Junk or Gems?”
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As a tenth grade student who is approaching the end of the year, and who is about to take the exam, I have to say proofs are essential to skills that a lot of students lack. It teaches deductive reason, which is key to life’s success, and logical thinking. Not to sound concided but I, myself, am amazing at proofs for some reason. Most of the time I get them done before the teacher. And last thing, in regard to that Pink Floyd song, its about communism and I don’t think it would work in the case in which we are discussing proofs.
John,
We seem to be in full agreement regarding the value of geometry proofs. That you are amazing at proofs indicates that you “get” what they are all about. Wonderful!
Regarding the song lyrics, I took them at face value, using them to make a point. Naturally, there may be other levels of interpretation, but I wasn’t going there.
Your comment sent me to do some searching. One of the comments I came across is particularly interesting. “the great thing about pink floyd songs is that they can be interpreted so many different ways. psychologists should use their songs instead of inkblots.” I don’t know much about their other songs, but the one I referenced is a great starting point for interesting discussion.
Thanks so much for the comment. Dr. Al