For Logic Pre-Algebra: This morning, we did something a little different. I gave the students three terms from our math vocabulary: order of operations, equation, and repetend. We read the definitions and then each student was to give a summary of how the term they chose of the three reflected the word “perseverance,” our 30 Character Quality word for the day. Here were their answers.
Emma: “The order in which we solve a problem reminds me of PEMDAS and the Order of Operations. You need perseverance to follow it through even when some of the steps are hard.”
Sebastian: “Through perseverance, I am persuaded that an equation is true.”
Alejandro: “Sometimes you need perseverance in the order of operations because it get repetitive.”
This brought us to talk about G.K. Chesterton’s quote “Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, “Do it again”; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, “Do it again” to the sun; and every evening, “Do it again” to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.”
Ellie: “If a repetend somehow had an active conscience/free will, then it would (most likely) continue to repeat in order to equalize what it applies to.”
Christopher: “God is a God of order and peace. God is immutable; God never changes His mind.”
Jacob: “I must persevere and make a perseverance speech about math such as order of operations or PMDAS.”
Candid Glimpses of a Challenge Classroom 