On Thursday morning, I had the pleasure of introducing this book to the school-based administrators in our district. I was involved in the initial stages of this book’s development, visiting Haida Gwaii twice with a group of educators that had been invited by the elders and educators of Haida Gwaii. My experiences on Haida Gwaii were transformative for me as an educator and as a person.

This book takes teachers and students on mathematical adventures in an inclusive, inquiry-based approach that focuses on being culturally responsive and place-based and centres on story, place, self-identity and culture.

Teachers and students used photographs they had taken on the islands to inspire mathematical inquiry and investigations. The mathematical investigations are not organized by grade level as there are entry points into the mathematics at many levels. Many of the lessons focus on canoes and there are also lessons with stories and traditional activities such as berry gathering as starting points.

(click on images to see in larger format)

We are hoping that this book will inspire some mathematical adventures in our own district and each elementary and secondary school has received a copy of the book for its professional library,

Linda Kaser and Judy Halbert of the Network and Inquiry and Innovation hold this book up as an example of what transformational pedagogy can be. When looking at connections to BC’s re-designed curriculum frameworks in mathematics, this book is such a great example of what mathematics teaching and learning could be.

Ordering information can be obtained by contacting Dr. Cynthia Nicol at cynthia.nicol@ubc.ca

~Janice