Comments on: Why would anyone want to teach calculus to a 7-year-old!?!?!

By: lorimathhead

lorimathhead — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 09:48:58 +0000

Knowledge of geometry, algebra, trigonometry and calculus would be a good start for anyone who wants to teach either at home or in an institution. Of course the credentials required depend on the particular place of learning.

To be great at teaching calculus, I think Don Cohen’s Calculus By and For Young People: Worksheets is mandatory.

By: Rudolf

Rudolf — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:03:39 +0000

I’m wondering how much knowledge is required before you can teach calculus. They need to know the basic number system and what else?

By: marshall_catts

marshall_catts — Thu, 06 May 2010 22:54:00 +0000

I’ve been teaching calculus (and other traditional “teenage” maths topics) to Year 1 children (6-7 year olds) here in eastern Australia since the late 1990s. Most of the kids love being able to do what the big kids do and to say to amazed relatives, “Mr Katz is teaching us calculus.”rnrnMy only regret is that I didn’t do this earlier in my primary/elementary teaching career which started in 1975.rnrnWell done, Lori. I never imagined I was the only one doing this but I was pleased to find your posting about your excitement at sharing the same experiences.

By: lorimathhead

lorimathhead — Thu, 07 May 2009 08:24:08 +0000

You are so kind. Thank you!

By: Maggie

Maggie — Thu, 07 May 2009 08:14:06 +0000

I only encountered Calculus when I went to university and then it was in a very mechanical way. (It has since been incorporated into secondary schools in South Africa)

It is the magic fibre of maths- why not teach the kids magic from a young age!!!!

I applaud you!

By: Michelle

Michelle — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 10:35:38 +0000

Great post! That teacher obviously has the closed-minded view of calculus as a lot of people do. But not me anymore! (yay!)

By: RashKath

RashKath — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 07:58:13 +0000

I liked your answer “I teach calculus to kids because I can, because they are smart enough to learn it, because it gives them confidence and alleviates their fears about math. They love learning what the “big kids” are learning.”
Keep up the good work!

By: Leena

Leena — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 07:42:14 +0000

I love your idea!
I have always loved calculus but I always hated fractions and percentage and all that. Math is like a cool game when you learn to use letters instead of numbers.
I think one of the reasons some people hate math is because it gets too boring at the beginning.

We need more people like you!