Amidon Planet E141: Barn Quilts, Culture, and Mathematical Thinking (w/ Siddhi Soni and Alyssa Harbin)
How can mathematics connect meaningfully to the culture and communities students live in?
In this episode we are learning to teach better with Dr. Siddhi Soni and Alyssa Harbin as we discuss their article, Barn Quilts Ethnomodeling Task, found in Mathematics Teacher: Learning and Teaching PK-12. The task is a mathematics experience that connects geometric thinking with cultural traditions found in communities across the United States. Through this work, they show how mathematics can be rooted in local contexts, helping students see mathematical ideas as part of the world around them.
We explore how ethnomodeling supports culturally responsive teaching, what teachers can learn from community artifacts like barn quilts, and how authentic mathematical tasks can deepen student engagement and understanding.
If you’re looking for ways to make mathematics more meaningful and connected to students’ lived experiences, this conversation offers inspiration and practical ideas.
Plus, the Physical Media of the Epsisode, How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question by Michael Schur.
Enjoy!
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Soni, S., & Harbin, A. (2026). Barn Quilts Ethnomodeling Task. Mathematics Teacher: Learning and Teaching PK-12, 119(1), 16-20. https://doi.org/10.5951/MTLT.2025.0012
Dr. Siddhi Soni’s website and Dr. Soni’s page at Eastern Connecticut State University
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Mathematics Education Trust Grants
