Is Mathematics Emotional? Poetry as an Affective Activity in Humanistic Mathematics Learning

Can mathematics be as humanistic and emotional as poetry, and how do mathematics and students’ emotions intersect? Building on previous scholarship that views both mathematics and poetry as forms of humanistic expression, this article explored how the practice of writing mathematical poetry can benefit introductory college classrooms by emphasizing the connection between students' emotions and their learning in mathematics. The study analyzed two examples of mathematical poetry written by college algebra students, using The Listening Guide Method. The findings demonstrated that students' emotions contributed to the creation of meaningful mathematical work that connects to their passion and personal lived experiences. This article recommends mathematical poetry writing in college algebra classrooms as a humanistic approach because it helps students recognize the vitality of mathematics and find joy in their mathematical endeavors.