Are there any other math teachers out there who show the TV show "Numb3rs" in your class?

Question

If you do, have you ever had any problems with parents or administration when you showed it? I am a second year 8th grade teacher and I showed several episodes last year, with no problems, but this year I know I am getting a student who comes from a very conservative family and I do not want to get in trouble. Should I maybe send home a permission slip or a letter to the parents letting them know about the show?

Answer 1

As long as it's within the school district's allowances for what's okay to watch (for example, kids below 4th grade can't watch PG movies in my district), you don't really have to send permission slips home.  If I were you, I'd send a letter home explaining the "really exciting opportunity" and list some of the resources made available through the show and the website.  That way, the parents are informed, you haven't allowed anyone to question your method of teaching (if you're doing it, you must think it's a good thing to do), and you're inviting the parents to get involved by citing the website.

Answer 2

I had one math teacher that showed The show Numb3ers and she never sent home a permission slip. I went to a rural farming community school and for the most part the families were conservative. If you think it may present a problem for this up coming year you may want to talk to the administration and see what they say, also have ready an argument that supports how it works into the lessons and the over all class. I thought it was a great show for our class.

hope this helps=)

Answer 3

Numbers in an 8th grade class?  Are you high?  The simplest form of math on that show is sick.  Furthermore, I don't think that they actually show any math on the show.  They'll show an analogy, but working from such little information to solve an abstract problem is incredibly difficult.  

What on earth do you teach with this?

Answer 4

A math teacher at my school shows it. Just clear it with the principal first. Some districts are really strict about getting permission first. You don't want to have to deal with that if anything happens.