I went to a
funeral last week.
Mary C. Laycock was a wonderful mathematician and teacher. I worked with her at Nueva School in Hillsborough, CA and knew her for many years.
Her students adored her and her ‘Mary’s Math.’ One lesson with Mary and you would develop an insight into math that would stay with you forever.
She knew how to get people to put on their mathematical eyeglasses.
She knew how to help them see everything through a mathematical lens.
She had the gift to transform students’ relationship with math.
Mary emphasized the beauty of understanding the process of mathematics rather than the importance of getting the right answer.
If a child offered an answer to a math problem and it was incorrect, she would tell him that he’d provided the answer to a different problem.
They weren’t wrong; they were simply stating the answer to a different problem.
And then she’s state that problem. Just like that.
Wherever she went she saw math.
If she were on a tour of a foreign city, instead of seeing the history, she would see tessellations. Instead of finely sculpted architecture, she’d see patterns and constructs.
She coaxed people put on their mathematical eyeglasses gently and creatively.
She had a sign up in her office.
‘If you want to know what a child is thinking, watch their fingers.’
When Mary watched a child’s fingers, she would see they needed to sketch. Or build. Or design something.
When I watch a child’s fingers, I see they are excited or anxious or frustrated or determined.
Like Mary, I want to help people put on their emotional intelligence eyeglasses.
I want to help them see that emotion is in all things—and that it is everywhere and always present.
Emotional intelligence leads to richer relationships—more productive relationships.
It is the lens through which we make more of our families, our communities, and ourselves.
By observing, creating, and strengthening our relationships, I believe we can reach a potential barely tapped right now.
So let’s start.
Put on your emotional intelligence eyeglasses.
Begin watching other people’s fingers.
Start seeing patterns of behavior and connection.
And we can begin to transform our personal world.
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We focus on the BIGGER things and loose out on the smaller ones, i guess…..thanks for sharing it!
This is good stuff! I often tell people that if they want me to shut up, I have to sit on my hands! And no, I am not Italian.
For sure, the hands aide in how we express ourselves. Paying attention to the hands of children, means we are paying to them and their hearts. We listen better and guide them more. Always a good thing!
It’s all about sharing and spreading the joy of learning.
thanks . really finger speaks . during stuttering/ stammer patient we apply how relax tongue and release the words simple with finger techniques . this helps a lot.
with regards
atta
WOW! I found this really interesting. I will certainly share this information with others. As an educator, I think we can really help students feel good about themselves even when an incorrect is given by them. When an instructor or teacher says, “You have given the answer to another question,” provides the student with an elevating spirit and motivation to continue to learn. The emotions that are conveyed through the use of hands will be something I will try to observe. Thank you for sharing. Hands Down on this one!!
Wow – I had never heard of this before and I will start watching now, and not just with children
Amazing !,
I’ve noticed among my friends and relatives who grew up together with me, that their few core personality traits have remained unchanged even after twenty plus years of other influence. one of them is their usage of hands and fingers to help them communicate or present their situation. Naturally by observiong their fingers gives us an idea about their condition and helps us consider their condition (untold but assumed) while communicating with them-
Hi,
Yes, I remember giving a speech once in Chicago. I was suppose to have a lapel mike, but received one that I had to hold in my hands. What a disaster because I wave my arms and use my fingers to make a point. Half the time the audience was yelling, “Use the microphone.”
Thank you for sharing.
Love,
anabel
Hi Claire,
You have brought up an important aspect. We as adults reveal our emotions extensively through our fingers.
Love,
anabel
Dear Claire,
You are in my opinion absolutely right. Adults demonstrate their emotions through their fingers just as extensively as do children.
Love,
anabel
I agree, Anabel, she was an amazing inspiration — watching her teach, or even just chatting with her about a lesson, inspired me to want to be a better teacher. I was so excited by the way she made complex math so simple with hands-on manipulatives (so we could see those children’s fingers at work) — I wanted manipulatives for humanities too! Maybe that’s one reason I like the publishing part of our Six Seconds’ work so much, it’s a way for us to carry that tradition forward.
Hi Josh,
I can remember celebrating her birthday (maybe 70th) at Nueva and thinking, “I want to still be working –just like Mary when I am seventy.” Now, I want to live as long as she did.
And, I agree about the publishing/hand-on part. She would be thrilled with what Six Seconds is doing.
Love,
anabel
When my daughter was about 18 months old, I started to notice that when she was struck with a question that she could not immediately answer, she would alternately clench her fingers into a fist and open them. It was as if she was “processing” the answer with her hands. It also illustrated her feelings of frustration, which made it easier for me to parent her appropriately. I thought it was just us!
Hi,
This is a an illustrative example. May I use you when I am teaching?
Love,
anabel
Of course. Thanks!
A
That was amazing, I am sending to all my school teacher offspring
Thank you very much for your response. I have been paying attention to child’s fingers for fifty or more years now.
Love,
anabel