Mathematics is a driving factor in education today and is often left behind in discussions about its impact on schools and everyday life for all ages and why it’s so important. Today, we will share why math is important to the students and teachers at Alamo Heights and the future it holds for the district.

According to three of our best math teachers at the Junior School, math is essential for everyday problem-solving and decision-making. Ms. Walker shared, “Math, uh, teaches you to think critically. Critical thinking, how to analyze things maybe.” Engineers and scientists use math for almost everything they do, and it’s becoming necessary in every job nowadays, whether it’s behind a counter or in a kitchen.

Ms. Walker’s style of teaching is what she calls reverse learning, where students go over the topic at home and come into class asking questions. She also uses Get More Math, a website with infinite math questions that provides daily goals for students to complete.

Math is also used in other classes and outside of school. Ms. Melle, the head of the Math Department at AHJS, said, “Math is used daily. I don’t think people realize how much we use it.” All math teachers can agree with that.

It’s not just students who need math. Adults in the office or teachers at our school have also found important uses for math. “I think again, the biggest thing people want to talk about is money, and money is math,” Ms. Walker shared. Ms. Brady, another math teacher at Alamo Heights, also said, “Math comes with time, math comes with money, math comes with basically everything we do,” which shows that if you do well in school, you won’t miss your paycheck.

When asked why math is so important, Ms. Brady said, “Math is a universal language, and we need to know it to be able to function in our daily lives.” People use math every day around the world. For example, from setting your wake-up alarm to planning your schedule, everyone uses time every day, and time is math.

Math is important to students and adults in school and beyond. Math can be used in almost everything we do, and without it, humans would be lost. In years to come, math will remain a constant and important factor in our everyday lives.