Mathematics & Poetry for All

• What: An online workshop where participants learn to write math-rich poems.
• Why: Learn practical techniques for building beautiful word patterns that explore mathematical patterns.
• Who: 50 parents, teachers, group leaders, and their children (ages 5 and up), with Dr. Maria Droujkova and Shelley Nash of Natural Math and Julie Bogart of Brave Writer as organizers.
• When: Live meetings November 2nd and 9th at 4:00 PM EST (New York).
• Where: Online video-talk software Zoom (similar to Skype).
• Price: Registration is $49. Work-trade stipends are available upon request.
• Supplies: Paper, markers, scissors, glue, tape, ideas.

Maybe you love writing and have embraced the joy of expressing your feelings and life experiences in words. Or maybe you love seeing patterns in snowflakes, fractals in trees, parabolas in the clouds. Or maybe you wonder how people come up with beauty and pattern, in poetry and mathematics?

This unique workshop brings writing and mathematics together in a way that has not been done before. We begin by playing with simple but profound mathematics, doing paper crafts in hands-on, minds-on ways. Then we proceed to explore images, emotions, and actions in the little beautiful world we’ve just created. Beautiful poetry, emerging from mathematics!

Both endeavors, writing and mathematics, often lose their joy as children embark on their study. In the first workshop meeting, you’ll play with paper and explore all kinds of ideas from engineering to art, from history to geometry. You’ll see how even a simple sheet of paper can open the door to fascinating and challenging math fields.  You’ll see a bit about how mathematics has a place in almost all human endeavors, hiding in plain site, waiting to be found. In week one, you might be surprised, intrigued, frustrated, or inspired.

When you gather images, feelings, and words, it is time for quiet poetry magic. Between the two meetings, you can create a piece of writing, guided on the forum by Brave Writer process and Julie Bogart’s advice.

Julie will bring the art of poetry to the mathematical experience! She will give kids a way to “hold” the vocabulary that helps it become personal and meaningful, all while creating a poetic result (free verse). Then we will share our poems the second week!

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to see math and writing in a new light.

Julie Bogart

I grew up in southern California, attended UCLA (Bachelor’s in history, 1983), studied abroad in France, spent a summer in Democratic Republic of Congo, lived in Morocco for four years, and earned my Master’s in theology from Xavier University (2007). I have five kids and homeschooled them for seventeen years. My professional writing credentials include ghostwriting, freelance writing, editing books, operating as the senior editor for a quarterly industry publication, and writing a weekly column for United Press International.

I’ve written Brave Writer’s Home Study Courses and have written or supervised the writing of all other Brave Writer products.

My homeschool credentials include ten years teaching theater and writing for our Cincinnati homeschool co-op of 300 students, four year membership in the steering committee of a local Charlotte Mason organization, speaking in the US, UK, and Canada at homeschool conventions, and hosting Brave Writer events all over the United States. Brave Writer opened its doors in January 2000 and has taught tens of thousands of families from all around the globe. Today, I live in Cincinnati, Ohio where I enjoy running, PG tips tea every morning, and kayaking.

Dr. Maria Droujkova 

I am a parent, curriculum developer, and mathematics education consultant. I bring together leaders in mathematics education, researchers, developers, parents, and teachers for projects and discussions of family mathematics, early algebra, individualized instruction, math games, and math clubs.

Recent interviews:

• 5-Year-Olds Can Learn Calculus – The Atlantic
• The Purpose of Education is to Have an Interesting Life – Musings of a Mathematical Mom
• How Much Math Should Everyone Know? – Science Friday on NPR
• AMA: Ask Me Anything – Reddit

Shelley Nash

I am the mom of seven amazing and challenging kids ages 14 to 2. For over 20 years, I have been driven by an insatiable desire to understand learning, education, education’s role in our society and personal development, and the role of technology in learning. I graduated Suma Cum Laude from Utah State University. I am passionate about letting children own their education and learning, and about discovering the elements that inspire learning in all of us. I am the co-creator and owner of Monarch Webwork,  an online membership-based community for family learning, and the co-leader of Natural Math.

What do you get from Mathematics & Poetry for All?

• A highly interactive experience where you make models, talk, and collaborate with other parents and teachers.
• Leading your children or students on playful math and writing adventure.
• At-home math and writing activities to try between the first and second meeting.
• The first meeting in a math circle format.
• The second meeting as a poetry workshop.
• Most importantly, you’ll get an amazing new perspective on math and writing!

Questions? Email reach.out@naturalmath.com or ask in comments to this page.

• Connection and devices: You will need fast internet to watch and listen. It’s better to have a microphone and a webcam so you can show and tell as well, but you can also use text chat.
• Software: Zoom is a tool for talking, like Skype or Google Hangouts. Please download and try it, here: https://zoom.us/test The same page offers tech support.
• Recording: The meetings videos will be available to course participants.