Lou Matthews

Lou Matthews

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Mathematics creative | Raising math to the power of the people | Culturally Relevant Teaching champion |🎙podcasts http://loumatthews.live #freemath

09/12/2024

I have reached 100 followers! Thank you for your continued support. I could not have done it without each of you. 🙏🤗🎉

27/09/2024

I had the privilege of joining a panel with fellow phenomenal Black male math educators Kristopher J. Childs James E ONeal Jr. and Shane Wiggan at the NCTM - National Council of Teachers of Mathematics in Chicago where we shared our voices about the hopes and aspirations of Black boys in mathematics. One question stood out:

What impactful message can we share on Monday morning to enhance the experiences of Black boys in math?

A few years ago, I observed a group of middle school boys playing marbles, measuring distance with a handspan technique to settle disputes. It reminded me of the need for recognizing mathematical genius outside traditional classrooms.

Here are my lingering thoughts:

1. Math Giftedness Thrives in Safety: Black boys often thrive in environments where they feel safe and accepted—often not in schools.

2. Black Boys Are Always Creating Authentic Worlds for Math Exploration: Their ways of experiencing the world, sometimes peculiar, sometimes unorthodox, problem-solving approaches are often down-played. We must broaden our definitions of valid learning experiences.

3. The Hidden Mathematical Spaces of Black Boys Are Often Overlooked: Mathematical brilliance exists in everyday spaces—like barbershops and neighborhoods—where Black boys feel valued. I see so many examples of problem solving, reasoning, measuring, probabilistic reasoning and the list goes on!

Photos from Lou Matthews's post 16/08/2024

Hearing from teachers and leaders over the last few months, I'm happy to launch this workshop series to support how teachers find power and agency in Creating Culturally Responsive Math Classrooms. Thanks to all the colleagues who asked for and refined this. We start Sept 12 and pre-enrollment is open for early birds! Please share far and wide. Choose one or all. https://institute.inspiremath.org/fallseries

Adapting Curriculum for Culturally Responsive Mathematics Teaching and Leadership Series - SEP 12, SEP 19, OCT 3, OCT 17

06/08/2024

"We don't wait until children drown before they get swim lesson...in math we do. Lou Matthews"

Just finished a coaching session with a young Bermudian boy. We struggled together and he worked so hard to master this particular 'algebra' skill that keeps popping up. I wanted to step in several times but realized I needed him to have some trouble spots and work through. We stayed with it and by the end we were close to mastery.

I wish I could do more to convince families - Black families, what's possible when children are coached in mathematics - We don't wait until children drown before they get swim lesson. And we shouldn't wait until children fail to give them the skills they need to succeed.

I get it. School math hasn't been kind to families. Many of my friends and family can point to memories of being ridiculed, excluded, made to feed dumb, in the "dumb" classes. That was wrong. It doesn't have to be your child's future.

Let me help you change that

www.inspiremath.org

IMPACT100 | IMPACT Academy 29/07/2024

IMPACT100 | IMPACT Academy Inspiring mentoring program for Black Bermudian boys aged 9-11. Culturally responsive and empowering. Join us today!

14/06/2024

So I got this running app and a training program to run/walk (read walk!) a 5K - no judgement. The trainer kept asking the question WHY ARE YOU HERE? WHY ARE YOU HERE. I struggled to answer that. Since then, that question has been ringing in my head, rent free.

Only 4 slots left for my first course: Teaching Hope through Math: Foundations of Culturally Responsive Teaching! https://inspireinstitute.learnworlds.com/teachinghope

Look what we've done in only 3 weeks, after branching out on my own - one of the most uncertain times of my life.
âś… Launched a professional learning platform to 400 of my contacts for teachers and leaders called the Institute for Culturally Responsive Math Teaching and a facebook support community Creating Culturally Responsive Math Classrooms
âś…Recruited 6 augural members of the institute
âś…Currently selling out our first virtual live summer course for educators (4 slots left)
âś…Recruited a couple more Black students to coach in Math

If only you knew my story! Why are you HERE?

12/06/2024

What curriculum or resource you use for math? Post and I will comment with my expert opinion!

12/06/2024

Send a message to learn more

05/06/2024

I never knew I would have so much fun coach math with students with such neurodiverse minds! Folks are missing out on some real unmasked brilliance! Anyone else have children and students who have ADHD and -like labels? What do you see?

05/06/2024

Slots available. Hi teachers, I owe you big thanks. Thanks for the support so far.

We still have some slots open for the summer course I'll be leading: “Teaching Hope through Mathematics: Foundations of Culturally Responsive Mathematics Teaching,” starting on June 20th. If you haven’t signed up yet, there’s still time to join us. ❤️Sign up Now: https://inspireinstitute.learnworlds.com/teachinghope

This course is all about bringing innovative, culturally responsive strategies to your math teaching practice, and I’d love to see you there.

NCTM - National Council of Teachers of Mathematics NCTM - National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Corwin

29/05/2024

Hi everyone, loving the support. Please help me get this in front of teachers.

I wanted to share an exciting summer professional learning opportunity. I’m enrolling teachers for up to 10 hours of learning with a new course, “Teaching Hope through Mathematics.”

It’s packed with practical strategies for engaging and culturally responsive teaching and starts June 20th online. Could you share this with your network? The discounted price is for anyone signing up by May 31 at https://inspireinstitute.learnworlds.com/teachinghope

- Lou Matthews, Founder, InspireMath.

03/05/2024

I virtually coach a small group of high school math clients.
My math coachees are thriving.
âś… Seems to work best with students who aren't so sure of their giftedness of parents who see more and are committed to investing...in math with me.
âś… Seems to work really well with adhd-like and neurodivergent students who get counted out.
âś… Seems to resonate with all students, but especially Black boys and girls.
and this last one...âś… Seems to work immediately.

Looking for a few new clients to work with. Please send me a message on FB or email me at [email protected].

12/04/2024

I am beyond grateful. Today, I had the honor of speaking at the The White House for the YOU Belong in STEM 2nd Annual National Convening, as an invited guest of the U.S. Department of Education. From the 'blue house' to the White House.

My talk, "Harnessing the H in STEM: Hope, Heart and Humanity in Math Classrooms" was a call to see the humans and the humanity in STEM in how we design and the environments we create. I shared the InspireMath Hope Wheel, our work at City Teaching Alliance building the Black Math Teacher Love Network, and even the story of how teachers broke out in the electric slide at the NCTM - National Council of Teachers of Mathematics 2023 conference.

A few key takeaways:
â–¶ Belonging is intentional DESIGN powered by Hope
â–¶ There is space at the center of STEM for everyone. we just have to make space.
â–¶ When we make space for people to belong, EVERYTHING shifts. For everyone.

A huge shout-out to the USDOE, organizers and colleagues who are pushing the boundaries of what it means to belong in Math and STEM.

Black Math Teacher Love Lightening Series: Growing the Brilliance of Black Children in Math - Feb 20 | RingCentral Events 15/02/2024

Hi all, thank you for supporting me in this work. Here is a free virtual event where I'll be a featured speaker. Please register and join me February 20th at 7pm eastern.

Black Math Teacher Love Lightening Series: Growing the Brilliance of Black Children in Math - Feb 20 | RingCentral Events Get tickets to Black Math Teacher Love Lightening Series: Growing the Brilliance of Black Children in Math, taking place 02/20/2024. RingCentral Events is your source for engaging events and experiences.

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