Our Guest: Mike Waski
Show Notes
Mike Waski joins us to talk about moving between concrete and abstract exploration in Mathematics with Upper Elementary and Adolescent students. This is not a linear progression, but a dance back and forth between both types of exploration.
Mike explains that it’s no particular skill that is the most important for students moving from Upper Elementary to the Adolescent Community, but that students are mathematical thinkers. This comes from students being given the time to explore mathematical concepts with hands-on materials. Upper El Guides must resist the temptation to move students too quickly into abstraction and give the gift of time for students to make foundational discoveries. Mike gives lots of specific examples about how to inspire students who resist using materials. Mike describes how the Montessori materials can still be used with Adolescents, although they are beyond their sensitive period for using manipulatives, to support their understanding.
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About our Guest
Mike Waski
Director of the Math Institute at Great Work, Inc.
Michael holds both adolescent and elementary diplomas from AMI. He completed his AMI Elementary training in Bergamo in 2008, under the direction of Baiba Krumins Grazzini. He also completed the NAMTA Orientation to Adolescent Studies in 2005. Michael taught middle and high school (12-18) from 2000-2007 and then high school (15-18) from 2008 to 2018. He has worked in California and Ohio – in private, public, and charter schools – both Montessori and non-Montessori, covering grades 2 through 12.
In 2018, Michael Waski transitioned from the classroom to a new role where he could share his ideas, practices, and enthusiasm with the community of Montessori adolescent practitioners. As the Director of the Math Institute, Michael has truly expanded his message to a global audience. Under his guidance, the Math Institute has published three of his math books. He has authored five comprehensive review sets, as a recursive daily student work, consisting of over 8,000 unique problems. He has also overseen the production of several adolescent math materials of his own vision. Michael continues to travel around the globe to bring his workshops and inspiration to the many fans of his work!
Michael has also been a lecturer for the AMI/NAMTA Orientation for Adolescent Studies since 2009 and has presented adolescent math workshops at the AMI Refresher Course from 2006 to 2019.
Resources
The Math Institute
https://www.themathinstitute.org/
Voices in Montessori Podcast
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