It may not be accurate, but at least it's precise!

In my avatar photo, I am holding a hyperbolic saddle. I love doing this stuff with children, and have been, for years. Where has this search term been hiding all my life?! I wish Google helped with sci-comm better instead of whatever they are doing that's breaking their search engine more and more.

We should publish more children's books (by children) somehow.

Thank you, this means a lot!

By the way, this is a recurring origin story for educational psychologists and educators entering the field. Something painful is happening to the person or their loved one while trying to learn, and the person starts digging into what that is, why that is, and how to make it all better.

Absolutely epic! Thank you for sharing. "What are some observable signals that someone gives off when they are about to purposefully grab the turn?" YES THIS. I hope your student enjoys this bonus psychology of math ed with calculus!

Read about integrating autistic people into those "thinking classrooms" fuzzy, highly social situations. He may not be that, but the techniques teachers develop might help you. It may literally be about him not knowing how people see cues for taking turns, or some such implicit social stuff.

Ask him to describe what he sees going on in detail, possibly in writing (for credit). Not the math, but the mathematical behaviors of people.

Have him sit back and collect data on how others do it. A qualitative observation study on what they do, what they say, how they take turns, etc. See if any categories emerge for him. He can't notice/deal with complexity, so he's trying to simplify it by controlling it. Ideally, occupational therapy

www.gathering4gardner.org - follow people who show up there?

So touch your 13-dimensional strings or whatever it is, right? 😅

People don't touch their physics enough these days. I once used literally zero explanations while helping an undergrad understand and solve all of her physics problems by setting up the corresponding experiments for her (levers, submerged bodies, etc.). She touched it, and then she knew how.

Here's the pentagon sequel.

👍👍👍