My middle school students have just been introduced to the concept of negative numbers. The mind-blowing idea that zero is actually NOT the smallest number. That numbers can get infinitely smaller—and the one-way number line they have always known—actually extends in both directions.
I teach in Minnesota, so Fahrenheit temperature is the easiest way I’ve found to explain negative numbers. My students understand the difference between -20 degrees and zero. There are times in January when the temperature dips into negative numbers and stays there for days. During these times, when the air is too cold to breathe, we bury ourselves in layers and heavy jackets, longing for a return to zero.
Right now, I know many teachers are just longing for zero. We long to be caught up enough to take a few deep breaths without feeling we lack the time to do so. We long to feel ready and prepared to meet the challenges of a new day. We long to feel like we are back at the starting line, rather than already lagging a mile behind.
Henry was frustrated working with me. His mop of dirty blond hair fell over his face as he gently beat his head on the table next to me while groaning.
“I don’t get it,” he complained. “It doesn’t make any sense.”
I agreed with him, but repeated the rule, wishing he would just cooperate and do it anyway.
“Subtracting a negative is the same as adding a positive,” I said. On his paper, I drew lines turning the two small negative signs into one large plus.
About the third time I repeated this math rule, I actually heard what I was saying.
Subtracting a negative is the same as adding a positive.
Wait a minute, I thought. Now this is something I can work with.
Couldn’t most of us stand to lose something that’s stressing us out? Something that’s bringing us down? Something that’s zapping our precious mental and physical energy?
What if the way back to zero—to getting my head back above water—is not adding something positive, but subtracting a negative?
Obviously, for teachers, many things can’t be subtracted. Our paperwork, lesson plans, committee meetings, co-workers, emails, grades and parent teacher conference nights aren’t going anywhere, but is there something we could subtract?
The negative thought that starts our day? The news? Political ads? Misunderstood texts? An incensing scroll through social media?
I don’t know about you, but the chances of me subtracting a negative right now, are probably a lot better than adding something new.
Sure, I understand the benefits of adding positive self-care, and it’s not that I wouldn’t love to carve out an hour for yoga, read a book or take a hot bath, but most of us hardly have time for lunch, let alone adding one more thing to our day, so for now, this seems like the place to start.
I may not understand all math’s complicated rules, but I know for many of us, zero is looking pretty good right now, and subtracting something negative might just help us get there.
After all, math has proven it is true.