Math isn't hard, it's a language | Randy Palisoc | TEDxManhattanBeach

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Is 26% proficiency in math acceptable to you? That's the question teacher and Synergy Academies Founder Dr. Randy Palisoc asks the TEDxManhattanBeach audience. With only 26% of U.S. twelfth graders proficient in mathematics, Randy shares his solution: teach math as a language. Putting words back into math lessons enables even the youngest school-age minds to grasp complex concepts, such as fractions, that are traditionally thought of as abstract and difficult to understand. In his stunningly simple and effective approach, math no longer creates problems for kids but solves them.
Randy Palisoc is a passionate educator, known for making math easy. A founder of the five-time national award winning Synergy Academies, Randy is proud to identify Synergy as an “in spite of” school. In spite of the fact that its students were disadvantaged and in spite of the fact that it did not have its own facility and had to pack up its classrooms every single week, his school was the first and only elementary school in South Los Angeles to ever win the National Blue Ribbon Award, and was named the #1 Urban Elementary School in America in 2013.
Seeking a broader impact, Randy left Synergy this year to start Ironbox Education. One of the ways he believes we can dramatically improve America’s schools is by doing a better job teaching math to our students in a way that makes sense to them. Randy believes implementing a few changes in the way we approach math will give students the confidence and thinking skills to be more competitive in a global economy.
Favorite TED Talk: “My Invention That Made Peace With Lions”: Richard Turere
The “Game Changer” he most admires is Steve Jobs, because he had the ability to envision things we did not even know we needed or wanted.
About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[@sprout8426]

thing is, math is always rushed at school, everybody grasps things at different paces, and once the smartest kid has grasped it, the teacher just moves on, not caring about the rest of the class thats left to catch up on their own and stay stuck in trying to catch up for the rest of the year edit: people seem to be relating hard in these replies, ofc there's the occasional self-centered comment there too, but all very interesting conversations

[@mad.3790]

Finally, someone have said it!

[@sachikopink0609]

You have perfectly summarized our entire math class

[@sciencenerd13]

Yesss, this is the real truth! If the Ted speech consisted of just these sentences, I'd give a standing ovation..

[@mariacolon9756]

Correct!

[@aguythatsrandom]

Who the kids who don't get it yet won't speak up because of fear of being judged that they need more time and practice to get it compared to the ones that get it off of the first try. I was one of them..

[@gullivourkenman9496]

Math is hard but life without math is harder...

[@Lunarpollo5622]

Yes

[@kyled1673]

Facts

[@kyled1673]

@@elxax6883 Yes really

[@bladelazoe]

It really is a game changer, those who don't bother to learn Math end up struggling heavily later on. Many just refuse to learn it because it was taught poorly in school.

[@gokurocks9]

@@elxax6883 You nor your ancestors would've existed without it...

[@internetuser8460]

The problem is that teachers in school have to rush in order to teach you everything. I constantly have to go back and review my notes or look at something like Khan Academy. If there's even one concept you dont get, all the stuff you learn later on becomes harder as well

[@holonasec]

Omg I so agree with u

[@octopunch9300]

Absolutely, I had so much trouble with math past algebra, to me it was so frustrating to begin understanding the subject one day and then forget it all by the same time next day, and the worst part? The class had already moved on...

[@MathTutor1]

Agree.

[@dalisabe62]

It is so because education has become a means to an end with a deadline target. Modern education is industry based, which is monetized and commercialized. Long gone the days when education was a lifelong quest with joyful exploration and mastery. Education costs a lot of money and is worthless if it doesn’t break even like any other business venture within a certain time. Good luck to all of us.

[@ramarsal0224]

I cant keep up with the class.

[@HOLOB0X]

math is easy until you realize you're only speaking the main language and forgot the 323 dialects it has

[@thestudentofficial5483]

bruh this is gold. Jokes aside you don't need to learn Welsh English to speak with foreigners.

[@martinshoosterman]

Yeah, math is only easy if you quit before it gets hard.

[@martinshoosterman]

@Saksham Tyagi welp is true

[@madhimalar8878]

True dat T-T

[@catsareawesome256]

I just picked up the main 4 operations and since I also know how to convert division into fractions, I skipped straight into 5th grade faster than a speedrunner trying to get a 4:54 on Mario and I’m scared of what cursed stuff I might find.

[@heyemilywalker]

I'm procrastinating from studying and just watch videos on how to be good at math

[@ghenulo]

+Emily Walker Math always gave me a headache. I could never make any sense out of any of it. Watching videos is probably good for relieving the headache.

[@geitekop507]

+Emily Walker Same. :P

[@Krystal-dn8me]

hey there. if you need any help in maths drop me a message here or on my blog - just search Daintee Lil Krystalz 😊

[@heyemilywalker]

what

[@berryblueish13]

me

[@sed9835]

Video: Math is a language Next video: How to learn any language in six months KZbin knows me too well

[@ahlamibrahim336]

burnt f1ames 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@amitthakur6597]

Haha..good game

[@marianjesus8014]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@trevorbass719]

Good job bruv

[@tungnguyen0792]

It's about 11 months already, were u good at Maths?

[@nickpei9825]

“We did not create math, we discovered math.”

[@ryannoonan5518]

Nick Pei that is not universally agreed upon

[@ziadahmed8758]

@@ryannoonan5518 it's like a language, as he said, its the language of nature, we created it to solve nature's problems

[@nadavron5460]

@@ziadahmed8758 when you talk to actual mathmaticians you realize that it describes nature only because we set it up that way. IMO math was invented but its relationship with natural phenomena(physics and advanced math) were discovered

[@AdrienLegendre]

Some math is created and some math is discovered.

[@randomguy263]

But then it isn't a language, because we don't discover languages, we make languages. But I think it very much is like a language. We create languages and math, but we don't just create them with some arbitrary rules, we create them to explain the real world. And that's why, even though we create them, they explain how the real world very well.

[@scardo9883]

23 years old and can’t do basic math. Can’t add subtract multiply or do division. I refuse to get a job that has a cash register because I struggle giving money and counting back change and it’s hard for me to tell time. I wish I had teachers like him who saw a student struggling and actually did something about it. I study basic math on my own now with apps on my phone and sometimes with my husband. It’s my biggest insecurity and I swore when I have kids I’ll make sure they learn and live learning. One day I’ll go to college and get a degree in nursing but for now I’m learning to add with apps on my phone.

[@graziaszczerbanov6925]

Right there with you! I used to get so embarrassed when I had to count with my fingers at the register. I’d do it under the table and cry after. I feel you! But you’ve got it! Keep studying and good luck to you :) you’re incredible and your children will know you to be a perseverant fighter who never gave up! All the best!

[@bryanwamwandu5790]

To be honest I would probably give up on apps. I think it is much better to use books, there is no shame in getting books on the absolute basics. I wish you all the best good luck.

[@je-2024_1]

half the battle is knowing you have a problem good luck

[@timetraveller2818]

@@nekohutao well decimals and fractions are basically "division" let me just explain division. a farmer has 6 pieces of land and since he is kind he wanted to donate these to 3 poor farmers equally how many pieces of land will each farmer get? well this is just 6÷3 (6 divided by 3 not 6 division 3 division is the name of the operation and divide is the thing we are doing). anyways back to the question well what is 6÷3 it is basically asking how many times if you keep adding 3 you get 6? 2 times because 3+3=6 *2* 3's is 6 therefore 6÷3 is 2 now another example 18÷3 how many 3's do i need to add to get 18 ? 6. because 3+3+3+3+3+3=18. now back to those farmers:a farmer has 6 pieces of land and since he is kind he wanted to donate these to 3 poor farmers equally how many pieces of land will each farmer get? now we have learnt division of small numbers ,yes i said small, because since you don't know division you can't calculate large numbers for example 108÷6 . anyways now we know why 6÷3=2. now but you might be asking yourself but that farmer is not actually dividing because it is not donating well yes but division is still used because this operation answers our question. now 6÷3=2 now to make sense of division in this farmer problem. 2 is basically what each of those 3 farmers will be donated. why? because they will be donated *equally* meaning each farmer will get the same amount of land. see how we used division in this problem ? i hope you understand mathematics more. if you have any doubts about division or any topic in general. just leave me a comment. :D

[@cave9440]

U can do it! I'm 35 year-old Chinese student in Japan, I'm learning Math too recently, I hadn't studied since second year of Junior High. But I feel happy, I like it now.

[@TheNobleBard]

Hey guys, just a warning. If you were moved by this video like I was, don't read the comments. It's filled with hate.

[@irtayag3]

It's sad that your comment is way down here.

[@irtayag3]

+Barack jong-un it wasn't before.

[@epwb]

you are right yo

[@nexusclarum8000]

Hatred is a perfectly valid and normal human emotion. Self-righteousness, moral convictions, which is becoming stronger and stronger in identifying liberals, is what causes violence, resentment and suffering.

[@gspaulsson]

+Nexus Clarum I don't get why you think a political comment is an appropriate response to a math video, but whatever. Self-righteousness and moral convictions are found only among liberals? Surely there is no-one more self-righteous and moralistic than the religious right; in fact, self-righteousness and moralizing are characteristic of all dogmatic belief systems, including political ideologies -- not just obvious ones, like communism and fascism, but also ones that claim to be about freedom, like anarchism, libertarianism and free-market fundamentalism. Their common denominator (math reference) is the comforting belief that their simple ideas will solve all problems, if only people will see the light. It is trying make complex realities fit those simple solutions that causes violence, resentment and suffering, like Cinderella's step-sisters trying to make the glass slipper fit. Whereas acknowledging complex realities and accommodating them flexibly is the core principle of liberalism (from the latin "liber", meaning free, all you "freedom-loving" conservatives). The American two-party system forces the spectrum of ideas that elsewhere would be covered by a dozen parties into two glass slippers, "liberal" and "conservative", words that have become tribal totems devoid of their original meaning. But the radicals of all kinds are illiberal, and they are all out to overthrow, not conserve. True liberals should want to conserve liberal principles; true conservatives should want to liberate people to think for themselves.

[@samsquanch1996]

God, I wish all my math teachers in the past were like him

[@inFAMOUSBlastshards]

+samsquanch1996 It's not too late to learn! :)

[@bighands69]

+samsquanch1996 There is nothing stopping you today from learning mathematics. If you have the internet you could learn any mathematics you want. You could speicalize in an area of your choice such as numerical computation or geometry. The choice is yours. Everything you want is more or less on youtube.

[@konfunable]

+samsquanch1996 You should have been pretty dumb if you needed explanations like that...

[@conradharris8167]

+Mindaugas I think he just wants his teachers to be in the past, so he doesn't have to deal with them in the present

[@cullenak4723]

samsquanch1996 no you don't if they where like him you would walk into an exam and not be able to answer 4000000000 + 3000000000

[@Sara-md8nu]

I dropped outta HS in 10th grade and HATED MATH. I didnt understand it and it was difficult. Went back to community college when I was 33 years old. I had a really good professor and passed both algebra1 and algebra2 with an A. Math finally made sense and I was good at it. I believe math is something that anyone can learn and understand but 100% believe its the teacher. If I had my college professor teaching me algebra back in HS I would've done well. I have since obtained my BSN from SDSU and continued taking math classes not because I needed them but because Math is fun!!! If I can do it, you can too🤓

[@LesserMoffHootkins]

Most people can’t do it.

[@josepharbizu2929]

That's interesting. I'm a math teacher. I think the teacher does have an impact on student learning. But I think the student is more in charge of their learning than they realize.

[@charesshlarraga7420]

Same here! Community college instructor really did wonders by making math easy and fun!

[@brandontorres4499]

🤓

[@hassanbatayneh7302]

@@brandontorres4499 Most constructive KZbin comment:

[@Aditi-cg4qf]

i literally searched "HOW TO BE GOOD AT MATH"and somehow ended up here

[@tankthepitbull520]

Believe it or not I struggled in school, but when I got to college I finished in the top 5% of my engineering calculus class. Have confidence in your abilities guys you can succeed !

[@thec7889]

why wouldnt i belive you sucked at school

[@hagarhamed6892]

thec because anyone can succeed if they put there selves to it

[@gunhasirac]

Rainbow Here not true. High school math and math in college is totally different. College is when math starts.

[@hagarhamed6892]

寂筑羽 I never said they were the same, I said that anyone can succeed in math if they try their best

[@gunhasirac]

Rainbow Here if you can read the original comment again before replying that will be helpful. And try one’s best doesn’t always work, some people try the wrong way and fail with a lot effort. Plus some people may just not have the talent.

[@AgglomeratiProduzioni]

74% of people is not good at math. I'm in the remaining 5%.

[@yousraab1568]

LOOOLLL CLEARLY !!

[@asvinseneviratne8454]

Ruben wow u can add. well done. XD

[@gabriellatawedrose1144]

President Trump are you the real Donald trump?😶

[@cee7659]

PERCENT SIGN GOES BEFORE THE NUMBER.

[@freecandy5250]

Ruben I'm the 5% too I'm the 2nd best in my class at math I had a 4th grade math book when I was in 3rd grade lol

[@yadhulsuresh]

If you have a good teacher who explains everything easier then you can surely learn maths. Mostly its the teacher's problem but we can't blame them completely , students should also need work on it.

[@atharvparlikar8765]

I think I'm lucky my teacher teacher teaches everything we ask from division to abstract algebra

[@mahadmahmoudabdi5904]

I agree that's sad reality

[@khaschen]

Sometime , good education must to use money

[@skitstay4032]

Teacher: there is multiple ways that maths can be done. Also teacher: shows the hardest way possible. Me : ask to show a easier way Teacher: shows easier way but cant actually use it on the test.

[@martinshoosterman]

Bertrand Russell and Andrew Whitehead once wrote a book called principia mathematica, in this book they took 300 pages to show that 1+1=2, Believe me when I say the method your teacher is showing you, is not the hardest possible way to do things.

[@siradmin6791]

Exactly. I learned everything I needed for my math test on KZbin because they used easy methods which the teacher didn't teach. But yet I got minus points on some of the questions but I still got a passing grade so I dknt mjnd

[@leemperor44]

@@siradmin6791 Why worry when you get the concept, Grades can't and never judge your knowledge.

[@magicmofy2871]

@@martinshoosterman proving something mathematically has nothing to do with practical calculation ways and techniques

[@martinshoosterman]

@@magicmofy2871 your comment made no sense, and also had no relevance to the comment I wrote 3 years ago.

[@belatorius3442]

Math is the main reason I struggled in school..

[@jon_ovo3653]

drawingmaster same I don't understand and teachers never teach

[@belatorius3442]

Most of my math teachers threw packets at us lol

[@jon_ovo3653]

drawingmaster ikr then go sit down

[@Rabiha1008]

drawingmaster I want to be a math major but I am scared cause I did not have good high school math teachers. they are just there for the money :(

[@gw3re]

Do it :) I was a math major and that was an excellent decision. Math is the language that explains the most important aspects of our world. You won't regret it.

[@kennygroth4938]

sure, now tell me how I can apply this to calculus

[@joel6672]

linear algebra has no numbers

[@mayankbhandari3536]

graphically try to do it. It helps a lot. However for graphs you could use the above techniques. Good luck.

[@AA-vn2nq]

ravi kiran this is a good one. thanks for that!

[@iyyappansivaraman5027]

think of infinitesimal values as small pebbles and other numbers as large stones

[@shikamarunara8920]

same

[@kevinkatzke2083]

We need more teachers like this brilliant teacher

[@Luka-ub4pm]

grade school: math is hard high school: wait til they include the english alphabet me: wait til they include the greek ones

[@Nixitur]

The "1 apple plus 1 apple" analogy is so incredibly useful. As a math tutor, I've been using it for years and it always surprises me that students aren't taught to think like that.

[@RobbyBoy167]

that's what we did in primary school in my country. don't know why the US has to make it so impossible

[@jon_ovo3653]

Nixitur Come teach me?

[@freshrockpapa-e7799]

It's incredibly useful until you have to add 1 third to one fourth, then you are fucked.

[@RobbyBoy167]

Fresh Rock Papa-E not really. You can explain fractions by splitting up the apple accordingly. That will make even more sense than just writing down the numbers

[@freshrockpapa-e7799]

FIFA Lords & Legends It will make sense, but it won't teach them how to do it I guess..

[@RaidONE4theONE]

I wish he was my teacher literally all my math teachers here is am instructional sheet, some homework problems, test in two days. ...why just why

[@konfunable]

+RaidONE If it's too complicated for you just go to work as a construction worker.

[@RaidONE4theONE]

Mindaugas I'm already enrolled in a university taking bio and pre-med. I just noticed a typo in my last comment haha. What I was trying to imply is that most of my previous math teachers would just give a vague powerpoint and give you an instruction sheet. Then expect you to get it in two days by giving you a quiz. Math is not a class that you can just read and regurgitate it is a skill that takes time to perfect.

[@konfunable]

RaidONE ok, agree )

[@morgengabe1]

That's all you're gonna get tbh, it's still maths at the end of the day. The quality of the sheets could do with an upgrade though.

[@silverwatchdog]

Maths actually becomes quite easy if you understand what you are doing and don't memorize. If you struggle with a section, take a step back and try to see what is actually going on. I had a weakness in sinplyfying exponential fractions, but then I just took a step back and figured out the steps to take for all of them and it became easy. My physics teacher also said don't learn examples, learn methods and that's probably the best advice for maths and physics. Create a methodical method on how you tackle specific types of problems. For example you can memorize that 1/2bh is the formula for area of a right triangle, or you can understand that a right triangle is basically a square cut in 2 pieces and therefore the area is exactly half of a square with the same base and height.

[@g0rdo176]

why can't more teachers be like him, dude is a legend

[@cheemiphiliphs1863]

My maths teacher was terrible he spent the lesson with his legs on the desk

[@UltimateReaperStudio]

If math is a language I can't speak it.

[@morjanekizi2181]

I love math .... sorry for disturbing .... ._.

[@UltimateReaperStudio]

Shipwreck115 "Math is for gaylords I'd rather smoke weed"

[@striderstrider5964]

same

[@morjanekizi2181]

ReaperRises What's gaylord ? :o and weed too please .... ._.

[@striderstrider5964]

Morjane Kizi you dont know what that is because youve been living under a rock

[@je_re]

2 plus 2 is 4 minus 1 that's 3 quick maffs

[@itismetaphorical1016]

Aalto okay , Big Shaq ....you mustn't​ be hot , right ?😂😂😂

[@shinydoritos0159]

Everyday man's on the block *SMOKE TREES*

[@dolaneditcompilations5558]

Big Shaq is the one and only

[@SnorGTraPz]

the ting goes skrra

[@shyshka_]

ShinyDoritos01 take yo girl to the park That girl is an *uckus*

[@vez8758]

Me in maths class: 30% eating 70% talking to friends 15% trying to focus

[@ipsitaparida4471]

And u expect yourself to understand math😒

[@ryannoonan5518]

If you talk less you would understand percentages better

[@ipsitaparida4471]

Ryan Noonan lol

[@iliveinsideyourhouse3943]

@@ryannoonan5518 I talks less and still doesn't understand everything

[@eliezerchi2371]

The sum of your percents shows it.

[@breakdancerQ]

I wish I discovered my interest for math as a highschool kid, I'm now in my last year college finding out how cool it actually is now that I can actually apply in ways I've never realised.

[@diaryofawimpycollegegirl5149]

he is right. most of the time in math i just dont know what they are asking me to do

[@kevynduran2659]

DiaryofA WimpyCollegeGirl beacuse you don't care

[@FistroMan]

@@kevynduran2659 Because normally some points are not well explained in problems. Teacher use to make relations betweens "some sentences" and the "solution for that sentence". I was used to solve problems in a different way of other people in class. In math and physics. So I don't have too much problems, but you can detect that reallity... "Teachers wait a kind of answer"

[@kevynduran2659]

Fistro Man I understand what your saying and it is partially the teachers fault when students are having trouble with the material but at the end of the day it’s all about choice if a student does not understand something they can go to the teacher for help or ask a friend or find help online, these are choices that the student can make to better understand the material they are learning. YOU make the choice to pay attention in class, YOU make the choice to study and YOU make the choice whether or not to seek help. So blaming a teacher for not understanding a topic is impractical, lazy and an excuse for those who don’t care enough to seek outside help. There are literally HUNDREDS of websites that are made to help students perform and excel academically( Khan Academy for example ).

[@Brainneeds]

Error 404

[@michaelhendricks5449]

Kenny Jr if you have to go outside of the course to gain the knowledge, understanding and skills to pass the course, you shouldn’t be paying for the course. Anytime I have to go to khan academy to understand material I am being “taught” I wonder why I am paying “to learn” when I am actually using free resources to learn. Then I remember our society is stuck using an outdated model because of the monopoly on accreditation, and it pisses me off.

[@TimTeatro]

This is why I think we should teach math and physics together. If you teach math as the language of the relationships that describe the world, the language can resonate with the mental models we naturally build to predict the consequences of our behaviour in the world we live in.

[@LiikeAralleyrace]

Tim Teatro thankfully for me I'm learning algebra and physics at the same time and the two really do work well together

[@princessfluffybottom1933]

Tim Teatro Exactly! The only problem is not all math teachers have qualifications in physics and vice versa.

[@ngalahansel6066]

I think you're right Tim.

[@winniemae3531]

Agree

[@shouryamu]

True , the whole purpose of mathematics was to develop a means to articulate physics and it laws !!

[@unnamed7225]

Ted Ed: Math isn't hard, it's a language Me: If language were any easier

[@lilimochifilm3254]

lol 😂 *FACTS*

[@sana3987]

@@lilimochifilm3254 blinkk

[@umeshkori8162]

They are! Remember when you were born you didn't speak a word but in some years you won't shut up😉

[@soilmanted]

@@umeshkori8162 Actually you started speaking the moment you were born. The adults around you understood what crying meant, and crying sounds were probably the earliest words you used. The adults understood what laughing joyfully meant. Then you started adding some words that you understood, but they did not. When my 2-year old started saying "gobbageez" he knew what he meant, but I didn't know what he meant. I thought it was just gibberish, but I was wrong. It was language. He helped me understand his language by pointing to the brocolli.

[@muhammadraihan5519]

When I was in high school, my teacher taught me how to calculate the surface of a ball. Instead of simply giving us the formula, he brought us oranges for all students. He told us to slice the orange in half and make 4 circles on a piece of paper using the sliced orange. Then, he told us to remove the orange peel little by little and start sticking it to the 4 circles we made. I was stunned when I realized that the orange peel does exactly fill all 4 circles. Since then, I started to see math formulas differently :)

[@deathstroketheterminator814]

The real problem is the speed at which teachers are expected to teach students new lessons. How are you going to force teachers to cram an entire lesson into 2 days if the students didn't understand the previous lesson? You are missing the foundation in that situation.

[@Stunt877]

Deathstroke the Terminator teachers in public schools don't care they just want the paycheck

[@NoName-wh2kg]

My school blatantly says that lessons are fast paced to get through the course. You're the one that's supposed to do the work at home. They don't allow us to take a part time job either.

[@lovebugxox1493]

Deathstroke the Terminator this is very true. I once had a biology teacher and she was the type that would give us daily ungraded quizzes just to see where we were at. She was very stern on everyone being on the same page in our class, but unfortunately because her class sizes were too big, my school thought it’d be a good idea 💡 to break the classes up. I’m always part of the experiment when there’s anything new (they say it’s random selection) to try at our school. Mind you, this teacher actually worked out for me, but I later get moved to a different bio class and the new teacher was exactly how you described above. On top of that she was barely there. She’d missed a lot of days, granted it was because of other students, but our substitute plan was to give us ppwk just so we’d be receiving credit. One minutes we’d have ppwk on photosynthesis next day it’d be water molecules. Truthfully, I learned nothing that year. I was better off with the bigger class size because at least that teacher worked hard and she did her best. I know this has nothing to do with math, just saying to my own experience .... I agree.

[@morganxo7168]

Deathstroke the Terminator LITERALLY MY MATHS TEACHER AND IF U ASK FOR HELP SHE SAYS NO, LIKE STRSIGHT UP

[@Proccito]

I think teachers are rushing it and trying to force it into their students. There is a huge difference in learning by saying "You should know this" than "This is how you can use it"

[@15thsquadron01]

I'm not giving up on Math. I'm going back to College.

[@maureendera6440]

You won't regret it

[@killerbean3122]

Go straight to university

[@miserysluvr]

I know that this is maybe late but good luck man!

[@mewying5184]

Good luck

[@dkncd]

Same here. Wish you the best!

[@neptune0909]

Dear Randy please be my teacher! 🙏🏻🙏🏻😔 You made it all look so easy and I really did enjoy.. I felt like I can do maths like aryabhatta.. . . You are a blessing to your students

[@tiborpejic2341]

I love it when they present a common teaching practice and present it as something new and exciting, something so natural it's wonder how no one thought of it before. But they did! Teaching fractions by splitting apples (oranges, pies, a pizzas etc.) is nothing new. That's the way I'm teaching my students. That is how I was taught, how my grandfather was taught and how fractions were taught in ancient Egypt. The "definition" of a fraction he presents is not from a textbook; rather, it was written for teachers to know what they need to teach their students, not how they should teach them. I understand some teachers might get confused and try teaching that to their students but that is not maths/language problem. The problem is the lack of educated teachers. One needs a deep understanding of a subject before one is able to teach it to others.

[@renehenriksen1735]

The problem with math is that it´s taught in an unemotional way soulless way. It becomes uninspiring because you as a student feel that it doesn´t speak to your heart and makes you rock and feel alive. If math was like true deepfelt love to a person people would definetely see it differently. We must admit that humans generally are more hot emotionalists than cold rationalists.

[@bladelazoe]

Out of every single math teacher I've ever had, I can think of only 5 that were actually good, the best one was in a college math course. Most of the time, Math is just taught poorly by teachers instead of what it could be.

[@renehenriksen1735]

I agree. If math was taught with more rhythm and aliveness certainly it would appeal to more people. One could remember and understand much more if math was written in the same language as for example Tao Te Ching. Something that appeals to the heart.

[@bladelazoe]

@@renehenriksen1735 Exactly.

[@MCLooyverse]

In a math class, you're often tought the how without the why. Ok, cool, 2 * 2 = 4, but why is that, and why do I need it? Analogies between multiplication and rectangles are not only really useful as a learning aid, but later (namely in Calculus) it comes back to give a useful understanding for more things. But if you're not taught what multiplication *is* but just how to do it, you don't get that understanding.

[@Litzow]

But math is not emotional, it is purely analytical.

[@lilithlissandra8047]

I was actually surprised by this language approach. Not because I never learned this way, but because I thought everyone already thought of math this way. I've always been miffed by some kids' utter lack of mathematical understanding, so thanks for clearing that mystery up.

[@DavidAndrewsPEC]

This is how I teach maths: 1- as a very precise language for describing problems and reporting their solutions 2- as a tool-box for working on problems and finding those solutions And that is all it is.

[@morjanekizi2181]

David Andrews >.> actually i never listen to my teachers xD

[@DavidAndrewsPEC]

Morjane Kizi Not my fault you're a fucking Dunning-Kruger idiot. That comment of yours isn't going to impress me. Someone I know from the townw I live in now told me he dropped out of high school because 'the teachers couldn't teach him anything' ... he's now gone full-conspiriturd. He is another 'I never listen to my teachers' bellend.

[@morjanekizi2181]

David Andrews Haha i was sure you would get it all wrong ! XD And don't worry i have only 20s on my math tests :) I said that i don't listen because they talk too much and my brain is one of a kid so i beter understand my self x3

[@morjanekizi2181]

David Andrews And what is a "dunning-kruger" ??? XD it is so funny to say but i don't know what it means ._.

[@klove5369]

I love this guy , you are giving me a new world for math honestly keep up the good work!

[@iLoveOneDirection072]

Math is amazing. It's a way of thinking, and it comes naturally to me. I'm so amazed by numbers, equations, formulas, complex questions. Everything in life is connected to mathatics.

[@zieballs7348]

+CurlyHairFTW check out the channel Numberphile.

[@homie3322]

+CurlyHairFTW I really want that feeling as you have, hahaha!

[@danmar007]

+CurlyHairFTW You're very lucky.

[@joshuasantiago788]

lucky you

[@CzechRiot]

+CurlyHairFTW Let's just hope you don't cut off numbers and variables the way you do with word's letters...

[@idontcaretbh2999]

I started calculus off really optimistic and now I have PTSD

[@HunkyMonkey1203]

Haha the language of derivatives and integrals is beautiful

[@gallectee6032]

You should try working in a slaughter house. Calculus won't seem so bad anymore :)

[@TenshinhanIsKing]

Are you good at algebra and trig? If not you shouldn’t be learning calculus yet.

[@cappsbriley]

The math that made me love math!

[@sachinardao3777]

How?

[@kaytobata657]

I am definitely going back to college. Thank you so much for reassuring me about math. Keep up the good work and many, many blessings all the way from SOLOMON ISLANDS, the Hapi isles.

[@paulj4247]

Good luck!

[@umerghaffar4686]

its been 2 yrs! what have you been up to?

[@christianmorrow3501]

So true! When I was in school and I read the way math was taught in our textbook, I often thought about something that someone wrote about the academic textbooks of his time: "When men write whole volumes of such stuff, are they not mad or intent to make others so?" Your way is so much clearer. Oh, how I wish I had been taught math like that.

[@JadenStylesNicita]

8:41 the invention of apple pen

[@happiness5977]

😂😂😂😂

[@aaronsmith6632]

Apple-pen + pineapple-pen = pen-apple-pineapple-pen

[@harikrishnans1421]

I have a maths test tomorrow. I watched over 7 maths videos Now going to sleep.

[@Syedaaroojbukhari]

Hahahha

[@alimajeedmsmath8626]

@@Syedaaroojbukhari hlo

[@aswinp2159]

😆

[@daviddo805]

Well how did it go?

[@mebrureay2056]

lol

[@fahmiperwira]

Mindblowing. Gonna use this to my soon-to-be-learning-fractions daughter.

[@gakusei6367]

That was actually really inspiring, thank you!

[@GenerationX1984]

A lot of math teachers are horrible. I had some awful ones in middle school and high school. It wasn't until college that the good math teachers and professors came into my life. The shitty toilet bowl known as the public education system is what holds people back in math.

[@daviddemar8749]

I couldn't agree more. I tell people all the time it's never too late-esp. now with so many free resources on the Internet and on KZbin. if I can become sort of a mathlete late in my life-something that would've seemed almost delusional or impossible to me in high school (Bronx H.S, of Science) anyone can do it !!!!

[@JoSh-yu6jt]

My math teacher exposed me in primary school in front of the entire class. I got traumatised back then. It lasted through my entire school time.

[@RobbyBoy167]

Hey david, i've got a 70 something year old man attending my first year uni math courses. It was so inspiring seeing him in lectures. It's never too late to learn anything mate

[@ontaka5997]

Most maths teachers were good at maths when they were kids. So they don't understand why kids have trouble understanding maths and the struggle they are going through.

[@jbogan4987]

That's why you gotta have empathy to teach...

[@kittimcconnell2633]

Word problems should be topical too. They should be about converting recipes, portion and serving sizes, budgeting, shopping, calculating miles per gallon, calculating walking speed, running speed, biking speed, driving speed for how long it would take each kid to get to school that way, et cetera.

[@saintpablo5594]

instead its all about a man buying 30 pineapples and 20 oranges

[@breadsotrue]

my grades started dropping over the years back in school, i went from second best in class to probably one of the worst the hardest subjects for me were math and physics, i barely passed in both. they caused me bad anxiety and i was panicking during most of my exams. but then in my last school year i worked very hard to understand the logic behind math and slowly it all became really clear to me! my first exam was one of the best in class! many didn't do really well and my teacher was so surprised, because he knew how much i've struggled! he wrote a congratulatory message on my exam paper and also told me how proud he was of me in front of class. that's one of my proudest moments. sadly i haven't continued doing math and took language in university, but i'm thinking of dropping out and going for medical engineering instead. the amount of math sounded scary but i've completely forgotten about my school years. it's not a talent, it's just hard work and i believe if i relearn everything before applying, it will turn out fine!

[@anneautisms5136]

As someone who is obsessed with language and going to become a sign language interpreter who doesn’t really need math but also wants to know how to interpret well enough for a Deaf kid one day (and I have a midterm I should have studied for more today) THANK YOU FOR THIS VIDEO!

[@inFAMOUSBlastshards]

The sad thing about math education is that if one of your teachers sucks early on, you're set up for failure for the next years.

[@bighands69]

+inFAMOUSBlastshards In the modern age their are no excuses especially if you have the internet. The problem today is parents not taking an interest in their children. A parent can easily learn the basics of mathematics to give a child a good foundation.

[@84ND3R5N4TCH]

+bighands69 You clearly haven't seen the mathematics resources on the internet. They're pitiful. Even Khan Academy, while good, isn't great.

[@dalek1099]

+bighands69 the problem is a lot of parents are poor too.Studies have shown in the UK half of adults can't do Mathematics up to an 11 year old standard.

[@amesakurako1]

To all ppl pursuing maths degrees and want to go far in the subject, I urge you to take up a course in the history of mathematics (esp for the British who don't teach geometry until university). You'll learn where the stuff you were told to memorise back in the day actually comes from, how mathematicians/philosophers/astronomers etc developed maths step by step, how the IDEA of fractions/calculus/prime numbers/trigonometry etc etc came about. I think lots of kids think maths is 'useless' because they think these mathematical concepts just appeared out of the blue and can't be applied to the real world. If they knew that it was precisely because of real world problems that created mathematics they would defo learn to appreciate the subject more.

[@michael43567]

I'm British, we actually learn geometry in primary and secondary school (kindergarten and high school)

[@joshuaokoli4236]

just seeing new formulas can get so boring and repetitive however after taking history and philosophy, it changed my whole outlook on the subject. i was truly inspired

[@CharlotteBennett]

What the fuck? In England you're taught geometry in primary all the way through schooling also. Where did you get this information?? Lmao

[@amesakurako1]

+Silver Wanderer I got this info from the fact that I am British and partook in British education of maths from year 3 all the way to degree level. In my opinion, what we were taught in geometry in school only scratches the surface of the field. It's so trivial that they were more memorising facts than actually studying it at a deeper level (eg. We were taught about polygons/angles inside polygons/barely mentioned Platonic solids/solved triangle in circle type questions). We never solved quadratic/cubic equations geometrically, never taught the 5 postulates of Euclidean geometry, or any type of complex problem solving using geometrical analysis (eg the type of questions you find if you google Chinese high school geometry questions). In A-Level maths the only thing close to geometry we touched on was trigonometry. The Cambridge STEP papers had some geometry questions which only involved trig. The UKMT papers were the only ones that had geometry questions but it's not on the syllabus.

[@amesakurako1]

+Gus I'm British too, and learned maths from the British curriculum from year 3 up to degree level. Please see my comment below.

[@jproxxy5181]

4:52 WTF YOOOO.. This part really change my meaning of Math

[@khytron06]

Im a math topper.I thought once i learned it, everyone thought of it that way. It's like when teacher told you this thing is called apple, you'd think that everyone now knows what it's called. You unconsciously think of it that way. That's why most of the time ppl say i'm good at math, i said "I'm not, i just understood it better".

[@abdullarazeen9950]

I wish you as my maths teacher. you are great...MATHEMATICS is the sense you never knew you had...

[@jiihgy2716]

wish I had this type of learning back in school

[@victorialazareva]

it's not too late :) Pick up some textbooks and work on your own ;)

[@jiihgy2716]

thanks

[@jonathanakerele8006]

I think he deadlines kill the learning process because you're constantly under pressure and urgency get to the next chapter, master the concept or the lesson in a given time period, and pass the test by getting as few problems wrong as possible. That can be a lot of pressure to deal with and take away from the joy of learning the information. The pressure of performance can destroy the natural enjoyment one receives of finally understanding something and finding its relevance in one's personal life experience. Then again, different people handle pressure differently. Some can be motivated by it to manage their time better while others may wilt and fall apart with exhaustion, embarrassment, and hopelessness.

[@surendra1990]

Responsible parents should ensure that the children develope a taste for maths as the speed of learning is a function of degree of interest that one has in that subject.

[@Abc123______]

When I was in school I was a gifted child, excelled in everything EXCEPT math once I got into later years... the problem that happened to me was that at one point I became completely disconnected from my math skills, and it just proceeded to teachers just passing me without teaching me the material. Now I'm sitting here on KZbin trying to have a better understanding of math.. the biggest regret I have with math was not understanding it, now I'm at a stage where I need it and I have nothing to show for it because I didn't learn it.

[@obrianmeya1895]

23 Savage same here bro it’s sad

[@aasyjepale5210]

for me maths was always easy and still is here in high school. recently i started finding myself calculating 3 digit number multiplications in head, gotta admit my memory has improved pretty notably

[@ubahnur8728]

I'm only good at math history but science it okay but English it's a c my lowest grade

[@MyKrabi]

I had a similar experience ... Open University has really good math courses you can take online.

[@JohnDoe-us1ek]

Same boat. In my opinion, it just doesn’t click as fast or natural for most people. People make it seem as if it’s because you’re not passionate about it or care enough so subconsciously you’re really just not trying to learn. For me, I’m trying but it takes me so much longer and with a lot more effort to understand basic math while my friend who, I wouldn’t necessarily say is more intelligent than me, can do percentages, 2-3 digit multiplying etc in his head with no problem. And he doesn’t care for math as much as me and he wasn’t in a higher level either. Some things are just harder than others.

[@clodgozon3968]

Whenever I get stuck of something for a long time, I just find a new way of thinking.

[@mifeke6149]

Four years of high school I was failing Math. Then I got a new teacher and within 10 weeks I was top of the grade, having caught up four years worth of work. It wasn't because of a Math language technique, it was because I finally got a teacher that spoke English properly.

[@nazihafalek3420]

I remembered when I first learned fractions my teacher explained it as pizza slices

[@bryenico]

lamisse falek what's wrong with improper fractions of pies? 78/23 pies is just 3 pies and 9 slices

[@superalvin7208]

Stupid idiot

[@MrDarkKobe24]

Mine too, and I'm glad she did.

[@jayti1827]

That's a good way. You really see it in action. And can make sense of it.

[@mmwapec]

Now i want pizza and its 3

[@SaraBearRawr0312]

I remember while in school that i found math to be the vain of my existence (I love science, including the more math based forms, but never figured i could get it). 11 years of schooling went by with me detesting and dreading going to math classes. Then i took an elective called Fundamentals of Technology during my junior year in highschool. This class was in essence an applied physics class with math, math, and more math. The difference was that it was just that, applied math. I wasnt figuring out some undetailed single math problem, i was solving formulas with a story behind them. I was taking a rocket and firing the engines at full blast and figuring out that the Force was equal to the mass times its acceleration. You often here people use the expression "Its not rocket science" but in this case that is exactly what it was. My teacher ended up teaching 4 of my courses before i graduated highschool and turned out to be a great mentor and good friend because he was able to look at the world and not just explain that it spun like my other math teachers for 11 previous years did, but showed me why it spun and that changes your outlook on math. I went from one of the lowest scoring students in my class for math to one of the top scoring students in 1 semester. I broke through the barrier of seeing math as something foreign by seeing how it connects in the real world. I took meaningless problems from my real math courses and made my own analogies for their meaning. A lot of times it really only comes down to a good teacher, someone who doesnt tell you that something is what it is, but explains why it is like it is. Thank you Mr. Morris.

[@callummiller5874]

TJW595 Beautiful story my friend. It actually a tear to my eye. I have always found Mathematics difficult. Over the years I have enrolled onto courses and dropped out repeatedly since I left school at 17 (26 now). It was mainly due to unsympathetic and unsupportive teachers and their overcomplicated explanations. Recently, howether, I have decided to give Math another chance. I have been watching hundreds of videos, reading articles and participating in online interactive lessons all with the intention of increasing my knowledge and skills of Math. I will not give up this time, I will remain focused, determined and committed. I hated Math for many years or at least I thought I hated it. The truth is, I never hated Math. I hated that I couldn't understand Math. That is the truth. I just wasn't able to See that until now.

[@aaronsmith6632]

TJW595 The "bane" of your existence.

[@olliele7119]

Aw, I liked this so much. It was so lighthearted and well-put. I’m glad I stumbled on it.

[@spheza6656]

this really helped, i have had a hard time with math but i feel good now, this might help me it might make me good at maths

[@AlqGo]

I'm much, much more interested in how does he manage to speak so smoothly?

[@tabularasa4491]

+Alq He's like a tenor George Takei.

[@callak_9974]

+Alq He's probably a teacher somewhere, so he's used to talking to groups of people. Maybe not this big, but enough!

[@CzechRiot]

Sounds like an average gay asian.

[@AlqGo]

CzechRiot I'm sorry for your life that you've met so many gays.

[@CzechRiot]

Alq Thanks for the support.

[@jimh8040]

One issue with maths is that it has to be practised, you can formulate your own arguments on a poem on the spot, but you probably can't answer a maths question without seeing something relatively similar. Once you practise it enough it becomes second nature, then you can tackle more difficult problems using that understanding as a foundation. The main thing is self discipline.

[@erinakim8248]

That’s what I love about Maths. No natural talent needed. You can build your skills with practice, determination and passion.

[@haithembaccouche8748]

I've actually learnt that no matter how hard math actually can be it's still just soo simple if you try a different approach for it and if you learn it as a language in itself it won't be really that difficult to understand any concept you just have to add some logic to it.

[@narasimhacharyakanaparthy4606]

Understanding student's way of learning things and teaching them - Best way of education.

[@LegitPrepperGuruNodoubt]

im already struggling in my english class, now you would tell me that math is a language?!

[@Ri3hy]

I love this! I always had math teachers who took offense when I would ask what the purpose for certain things were. I wanted to know THE LANGUAGE of math, but no one ever helped me. This video brought tears to my eyes

[@user-mx8pr5wr9c]

.

[@christinebarrantes8645]

a genius! I teared up feeling understood in one video.. Thank you for taking the time to research and present this LIFE changing video

[@tinajangir4077]

Sir I am completely agree with you and now I am working on 'maths in our real life and teach maths practically'.

[@zimrah4837]

He is speaking my language. I wish I had him as my Math teacher when I was in school. I wouldn't not be struggling in college.

[@saimahramen]

He’s such a precious human. 😭

[@aaronmcnab4366]

This guy is good. With this kind of insight, It is easier to understand math from a variety of age groups.

[@sivancohen4940]

I wish things like this were shown to everyone

[@yoshi_drinks_tea]

This is one of the best speeches of TED I have ever heard and seen. Education is really importent and should be taken more seriously like Finland.

[@kkealohanui]

I always had a hard time with math to the point I would have an emotional breakdown in school and it would be embarrassing for me

[@leiv1448]

Same.

[@dsmith3383]

🤯Its horrifying how many of us grew up feeling inadequate simply because we struggled with math...how many of our academic lives were stifled by the rote method of teaching math...

[@user-dw8lv6sy2y]

마치 우리가 영어나 중국어 같은 외국어를 배우듯이 수학을 하나의 언어로서 배워보라는 것은 좋은 방법인 것 같습니다. 문자와 식에 무서움을 가지지 말고 하나의 언어로서 배우는 태도를 가진다면 훨씬 쉽게 수학을 접할 수 있을 것 같습니다. 좋은 강의였습니다.

[@sanskritisanskriti1945]

This video made me cry. I wish someone made me learn this way and with such support. Thanks to you I feel better.

[@specialisedmatheducation7351]

I tutor Math and have also been using a verbal approach, with great results. As somebody else mentioned, I'm surprised this is not the norm as it's incredibly easy to help students understand and arrive at the right answer. It works with fractions, addition/subtraction of like terms in Algebra, equations, and so on.

[@HeavenestStCyr]

Very brilliant approach: math as a language changes a lot. Great job done sir!

[@sagivalia5041]

The single thing that holds me through my math studies and it's entire idea is that atleast by my view, that whether or not it was discovered or created, it's notations, formulas and overall methods were created by human beings so there MUST be a humanlike logic behind it all, as it hard as may be, there must be and me as a human can find it. this is the single thing that holds me and even motivate me to study beyond school.

[@mudfirethebengal10]

This made me want to scream. Could someone go back in time to little me and be like, "hey kid, want stuff to ACTUALLY make SENSE?" Because how I've been taught is essentially memorization. I can't recognize anything outside of those set up problems forced on me, so I can't use the crud.

[@bighands69]

+Careful Planning You can start to learn now if you want to. The internet more or less has everything you desire in terms of learning mathematics.

[@mudfirethebengal10]

+bighands69 I know, I've been starting to try and get into that. The problem is knowing where to start.

[@blasphomie]

hey man, I may think im great at math, but my biggest secret is the fact that i have memorized my times tables. From there, all i do is remember. 7x60 easy, 7 times 6 is 42, carry the 0. 420. 11x40, trickier. 1 times 40, plus one times 40 with an extra zero. 440. I can figure this stuff out in under 5 to 10 secs roughly.

[@bhaswatmandal8751]

Always loved Mathematics....Maths gave me purpose of life...I wouldn't say I am exceptional in Maths but I really love it. It is the most beautiful thing.

[@2023grannnt]

Mathematics is true love, if we feel and understand it, it gives more happiness than anything else... mathematics is the greatest miracle

[@rsrileylopez]

AWESOME WAY OF CLEARING UP THE FOUNDATION OF MATH. THANK YOU

[@MyKrabi]

Thank you so much for this amazing talk! What a wonderful and passionate teacher!

[@Scensum]

3:41 Cedric Diggory is in the audience.

[@guesswhoami4723]

Ronald's Piano Videos OMG! 😂😂😂

[@archie8709]

Dude!

[@msbrownie8248]

Lmaoo

[@williamson987]

Merlin's beard!

[@RealPi]

At university, when I was doing TA work, the first thing I would say to a new class was that I was not going to try to find news ways to get them to see how useful maths is, because all they needed to understand was that it was a language. In the same way you don’t ask “what use is the letter Z?” when learning English, likewise you don’t ask “what use is algebra?” when you learn it. Like language learning, you begin by memorising some words and putting things together which are relatively easy, and later on you move to deeper ways of learning until you become fluent to the point of even being able to translate from one discipline to another.

[@geasportel-winters5189]

this is a great talk. I totally agree with it. Thank you.

[@chickenlurkinyungchihuahua]

I've left school quite some time ago but I've grown to realize that I don't actually hate math. It's just that my teachers were the ones who demoralized me into liking it.

[@artemischen4086]

I'm a America born chinese and I truly literally am not good at math. I think it's really the way of teaching that matters not ethnic.

[@user-sk3gq8ce8n]

Outstanding presentation! It is long past time to ditch the way math is taught in schools and in textbooks. Unless most students can become proficient in math the U.S. will not be able to compete globally with other countries. I only hope policymakers will recognize how urgent this problem is and will do what is necessary to stop repeating the mistakes of the past and chart a new course. We need many more teachers like Randy Palisoc who make learning fun and practical. Any math teacher who cannot do this, or only focuses on the brightest students, should find another job.

[@Johna41223]

I think that the way that a person can teach one other person math in the best possible way is to improve that teacher’s own teaching and technique for engaging students.

[@antoniettefabian]

Watching this video as I’m struggling with Linear Algebra/: I need the motivation to keep on going!!!!

[@user-he5te6il5c]

Wow this word it's amazing "Math is a human language " 🧡🧡

[@imnewzealand393]

its been years since i started school and im still trying to love maths gosh

[@RennyLu]

"Math is Math!" - An incredible guy

[@johndoe9011]

Also, another important consideration is that, as much as I can tell, many mathematicians that I have encountered simply have a very poor grasp of the English language. They just cannot take a mathematical statement and utilize the English language well enough to make sense of this stuff. They think their math definitions are perfect, but I can't tell you how many times I have seen a student gain a better grasp on a subject once a particular theorem or statement or mathematical expression has been reworded. But many mathematicians, as much I have seen, simply lack an acceptable grasp of the language in which the teacher communicates with the student. Sorry, we don't communicate purely in terms of mathematics; that is, we MUST use English or the common language of the group in question in order to communicate ideas about mathematics. Therein lie a serious problem: many math teachers don't realize that they are teachers. They think they are mathematicians talking to mathematicians.

[@kylejohnson8447]

Lol this is so... misguided

[@amberheard2869]

Very true! You will hate me after hearing this: I am one of those😂😂😂.