Teaching Math Classically

In this course, veteran math educators and classical school academic leaders Andrew Elizalde and Bill Carey describe the way mathematics should be recovered and renewed as a liberal art and therefore as a humanities subject. Andrew not only traces the history of mathematics education, but also notes how it slowly deteriorated in America. Most importantly, Andrew shows how mathematics can be taught effectively using traditional, classical pedagogies that should engross and delight most students. Andrew advocates teaching math as something beyond a mere utilitarian skill, but rather as a way of understanding the world.

Questions addressed in this course include:

• Why should mathematics be regarded as a humanities art?
• What were the distinctive principles and practices of a classical mathematics curriculum?
• What went wrong in American mathematics education?
• What are the practical ways that one teaches math classically?
• What are the advantages and challenges of using the Singapore method of teaching math?

Andrew Elizalde earned his BA at Depauw University in Indiana, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude, earned a math major, physics minor, and religious studies minor, and received the H.E.H. Greenleaf Award as the most outstanding 2001 graduate of the school’s mathematics program. He later obtained a teaching credential from California State University Long Beach with a professional-clear qualification for his coursework regarding exceptional children and technology integration. His teaching experience includes work in both public and private schools in subjects ranging from 5th grade mathematics to advanced calculus and physics. His past work in classical education has most notably included reforming mathematics programs and building professional learning communities through meaningful professional development. Andrew is glad to now be serving Covenant Classical School in Fort Worth, Texas, as the dean of academics. Additionally, Andrew also offers consulting services to classical Christian schools and has been a keynote speaker at both the ICS Math and Science Lyceum and SCL annual conferences. Andrew and his wife, Brooke, have three daughters and attend Fort Worth Presbyterian Church.

Bill Carey has been involved in the life of Ad Fontes Academy in Centreville, Virginia, since he was in high school. He assisted his father at the weekly Latin Club and took Ad Fontes students to many certamina and conventions. At the University of Virginia he studied the classics, focusing on Latin. Fresh from college, he joined the Ad Fontes faculty, where he taught Latin, calculus, formal logic, physics, and (for a few months) senior thesis. After five years of teaching, Bill took a sabbatical writing computer programs for a defense contractor to better understand how adults think about and use mathematics. Always drawn to the classroom, he went on to teach a year of physics and classics courses at George Mason and now runs the Techne Society. After seven years he gladly rejoined the full-time faculty at Ad Fontes to teach math and science. Bill is married to Maren Carey, also a teacher, and they both worship at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Fairfax and Clifton.

To learn more about earning a certificate for this course, please visit “How do I Obtain a Course Certificate?” on our FAQ page. Our course certificates are valued by classical schools and co-ops worldwide, and you can also be on your way to obtaining an elective credit toward a Level 1 certificate with your completion of this course. Teachers certified with either ACSI or ACCS will see continuing education unit (CEU) credits listed on our course certificate for you to submit to either organization (with more information on certification credit here).