Math Renaissance

Math Renaissance is a book for teachers and parents of children ages five and up. The co-authors Rodi and Rachel Steinig share their insights as mother and daughter, co-teachers, and co-learners. In her chapters, Rodi tells stories about her math circle and exactly what happens there. Rachel discusses why so many kids hate math, documents the ways math is taught in the classroom, and celebrates improvements in mathematics education. The book shifts mathematics education toward inquiry, discovery, conceptual understanding, and lasting joy.

The book gives voice to many students, parents and teachers. It is a grassroots effort to make people aware of problems and successes in math education. It will help you find validation of your feelings, math circle know-how, and classroom investigations of geometry, logic, functions, and optimization.

Everybody can access the beauty and joy in mathematics. Parents, teachers, and mathematicians have a vision of math being taught in a way that’s collaborative, profound, and accessible to everybody, a Math Renaissance if you will. The authors hope the book will repair damaged relationships with math and enhance good ones.

“Rachel’s is the voice of the silent majority of school students; it sounds authentic. This authenticity is the most important quality of her writing.”

    –Alexandre Borovik, Professor of Pure Mathematics, University of Manchester

"Thought-provoking and entertaining. It opens up so many more possibilities for all of us experienced with traditional math instruction.”

    –Paige Menton, parent and classroom teacher

“Empowering and eye-opening. It is exciting to think about math in this way! Rodi challenges assumptions about how math is taught and learned. Anyone who cares about math learning will find this book worthy of a good, hard rethink session. Besides turning traditional math education on its head, Rodi also writes with a personal, humble and enjoyable voice, making it fun to read.”

    –Melissa Church, parent and classroom teacher

“The truth can't ring louder about the struggles of students. Everything that Rachel is saying is totally relatable, simply everything. Not only are her suggestions smart, her writing sneaks in small funny moments. She offers realistic situations that can be used in the classroom.”

    –Amina Fong, high school student