Dan Finkel

The main image in the top left shows a radial design created with 21st Century Pattern Blocks. It was built by arranging six identical double hexagons around a central hexagon. Each double hexagon is composed of two heptagons joined together using two darts. The gaps between the double hexagons are filled in with regular hexagons made from one yellow hexagon and six red trapezoids. The first image along the bottom shows the double hexagon made from two gray darts, two yellow hexagons, four pink triangles, six red trapezoids, and six green triangles. The rest of the images along the bottom and on the right show the progression of the design.

Pattern block play! #21CenturyPB #iTeachMath

MathHappens at Gathering 4 Gardner 2026! - MathHappens Attending the 16th Gathering for Gardner conference in San Francisco was a great experience for MathHappens! The event, held in honor of the life and spirit of Martin Gardner, brings together mathemat...

Cool to see these awesome #21CenturyPatternBlock designs from @mathhappens.bsky.social at the Gathering 4 Gardner!

www.mathhappens.org/mathhappens-...

The main image in the top left shows a radial design created with 21st Century Pattern Blocks. It was built by arranging six identical double hexagons around a central teal hexagon. Each double hexagon is composed of two heptagons joined together using darts. The gaps between the double hexagons are filled in with regular hexagons made from six teal kites. The first image along the bottom shows the double hexagon made from two gray darts, four teal kites, four purple hexagons, four blue rhombuses, and four green triangles. The rest of the images along the bottom and on the right show the progression of the design.

Pattern block play! #21CenturyPB #iTeachMath

The main image in the top left shows a radial design created with 21st Century Pattern Blocks. It was built by arranging six identical double hexagons around a central teal hexagon. Each double hexagon is composed of two heptagons joined together using darts. The gaps between the double hexagons are filled in with regular hexagons made from six teal kites. The first image along the bottom shows the double hexagon made from two gray darts, four teal kites, four purple hexagons, and six blue rhombuses. The rest of the images along the bottom and on the right show the progression of the design.

New pattern block play for March! Joining two heptagons with two darts to create larger designs! #21CenturyPB #iTeachMath

Me too. My hope is that this kind of article can help teachers and those who support them push back on that kind of implementation.

Virtual Math Summit Join thousands of educators for the 2026 Virtual Math Summit: February 28th and March1, 2026! The best math PD you will find this winter for elementary teachers. Plus, you can watch it from anywhere! ...

The Build Math Mind Virtual Summit has already started! You can still sign up - free!

I'll be speaking tomorrow at 1pm PST on Purposeful Fluency. I'll be addressing how we can build fluency while also giving opportunities to think deeply about mathematical structure. Join me!
virtualmathsummit.com

Just returning from a spectacular retreat with math coaches working throughout Ontario. Thanks OMCA for inviting me! It was incredible to speak to such thoughtful and passionate math educators.

And next...

Integrity over Fidelity - Math For Love 0 0 votes Article Rating

I wrote my own blog post on the topic of "Integrity over Fidelity." I think there's some really useful language here about how we should be using curriculum as a resource for teachers, rather than something to disempower them.

mathforlove.com/2022/04/inte...

The quote at the end I especially like: "High-quality, core comprehensive instructional materials are not a script. Instead, they provide teachers with a strong, foundation to work their pedagogical prowess on."

3 Common Misconceptions About High-Quality Instructional Materials - EdReports In order for teachers to experience the true benefits of quality materials, it’s important to understand their misgivings and engage in productive conversations.

There's an article from EdReports I want to people to use to make the point that teachers aren't "supposed" to follow scripts exactly.

www.edreports.org/resources/ar...

Variation: put the blocks in first, and then ask the student if they think they'll win or lose after the dice are rolled.

Then let them put the blocks in, but you (or another student) gets to choose whether they win if the dice are heavier or lighter than the blocks.

The image shows a circular arrangement of six flower-like shapes with 21st Century Pattern Blocks, leaving an empty, flower-shaped space in the center. Each flower has a hexagon made of one teal kite, four gray darts, and six pink triangles, at its center, surrounded by six green triangles and six pink triangles.

Pattern block play! #21CenturyPB #iTeachMath

The image shows a circular arrangement of six flower-like shapes with 21st Century Pattern Blocks, leaving an empty, flower-shaped space in the center. Each flower has a hexagon made of four teal kites and four pink triangles, at its center, surrounded by six green triangles and six pink triangles.

Pattern block play! #21CenturyPB #iTeachMath

The image shows a circular arrangement of six flower-like shapes with 21st Century Pattern Blocks, leaving an empty, flower-shaped space in the center. Each flower has two teal kites, and two blue rhombuses around its center point, surrounded by two blue rhombuses, six green triangles, and ten pink triangles.

Pattern block play! #21CenturyPB #iTeachMath

The image shows a circular arrangement of six flower-like shapes with 21st Century Pattern Blocks, leaving an empty, flower-shaped space in the center. Each flower has two teal kites, four pink triangles, and two blue rhombuses around its center point, surrounded by two blue rhombuses, six green triangles, and six pink triangles.

Pattern block play! #21CenturyPB #iTeachMath

The image shows a circular arrangement of six flower-like shapes with 21st Century Pattern Blocks, leaving an empty, flower-shaped space in the center. Each flower has a blue-green diamond, made of two blue rhombuses and four green triangles, at its center, surrounded by six red trapezoids, two blue rhombuses, and six pink triangles.

Pattern block play! #21CenturyPB #iTeachMath

The image shows a circular arrangement of six flower-like shapes with 21st Century Pattern Blocks, leaving an empty, flower-shaped space in the center. Each flower has a central hexagon made of eight pink triangles and four gray darts, surrounded by six green triangles and six pink triangles.

Pattern block play! #21CenturyPB #iTeachMath

The image shows a circular arrangement of six flower-like shapes with 21st Century Pattern Blocks, leaving an empty, flower-shaped space in the center. Each flower has a central yellow hexagon at its center, surrounded by alternating blue rhombuses and pink triangles. The outer layer is completed with three blue rhombuses, three pink triangles, and three teal kites.

Pattern block play! #21CenturyPB #iTeachMath

Donate to Support for Sara After Condo Flood, organized by Amy Carroll Sara, my sister, is going through an incredibly tough time. Two weeks ago, during a sub… Amy Carroll needs your support for Support for Sara After Condo Flood

This isn't easy to share, but I'm grateful for any support, prayers, or encouragement during this season. Love to all. www.gofundme.com/f/support-fo...

The image shows a circular arrangement of six flower-like shapes with 21st Century Pattern Blocks, leaving an empty, flower-shaped space in the center. Each flower has a central hexagon composed of alternating kites and darts, which is then surrounded by six gray darts and six blue rhombuses.

Pattern block play! #21CenturyPB #iTeachMath

What if one tiny change could make a huge impact on how students learn in your math class? Learn to use openers to energize & motivate students in grades 1-9.

Learn more about Dan Finkel's @mathforlove.bsky.social How to Use Mathematical Openers online workshop: grassrootsworkshops.com/wor...

The image shows a circular arrangement of six flower-like shapes with 21st Century Pattern Blocks, leaving an empty, flower-shaped space in the center. Each flower has a yellow hexagon at its center, surrounded by twelve blue rhombuses, and six pink triangles.

Pattern block play! #21CenturyPB #iTeachMath

2. How Tom Beat Captain Najork and His Hired Sportsmen

Not as long as the others, but genuinely funny and fun. Great illustrations by Quentin Blake too.

There's contextual updating you may need to do with both books (they were written a long time ago), but I think they both hold up beautifully.

1. The Saga of Erik the Viking.

This one was my favorite when I was a kid. It's by, of all people, Terry Jones, of Monty Python fame. And though they made a stupid comedy movie of it at some point, the book is beautifully written and a genuinely exciting adventure.

I've been meaning to write back to a post of yours from months ago looking for kids books like The Wild Robot for your kids. And this one reminds me of that, since my wife is reading Harry Potter #3 to our oldest (6.5) right now.

So here are two less well-known books you and your kids might like:

Manipulatives in Math Class Are So Worth It - Math For Love 0 0 votes Article Rating

Welcome!
mathforlove.com/2026/01/mani...

Poster promoting workshop series on Unlocking Numeracy

If you're a teacher or educator in the state of #Maine who works to teach or support math for 3rd - 5th graders, you can sign up for a series of virtual workshops I'll be leading to support Numeracy.

#iteachmath
Learn more and apply - registration closes Friday!
forms.office.com/g/4HXtFY8tST

Here's a super small game you can play anytime with no materials.
mathforlove.com/2026/01/trif...

That's a great turn

That's basically the highest praise I ever hope to get!

We've been playing the younger kid version with our 6.5 year old too. It's been fun... kind of wondering when he'll graduate up to the full version.

Maybe someday they'll continue the tradition and play against each other!