HI!
My name is Kevin Smith. I teach at Dakota State University. I'm in the process of writing and illustrating a children's book to help people learn about what math really is and that our attitude about the subject can really have an impact on our ability to do math.

My goal is to finish the book, get it printed, and then share it with as many people as possible. Below are some resources relating to the book.

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What is math?

Many people think that math is simply about doing calculations or executing procedures. That makes sense because often times the majority of our time in school involves doing just that. However, when you talk to mathematicians, they will tell you that mathematics is about so much more than doing calculations. In fact, we have powerful tools such as calculators, spreadsheets, and other software programs that can do calculations much quicker than we can and more accurately. Math is really about things like looking for patterns, modeling different situations, and becoming creative problem solvers. Helping students understand what math really is and giving them engaging opportunities to experience math is really important.

Why does attitude matter?

Research shows that attitude plays an important role in math achievement.