Arithmetic and math must be mastered step by step, and there is no point in rushing onto a more advanced concept or starting 5th grade math if the child cannot even cope with 4th grade math. Basic calculations need to be properly reinforced. Maths can be fun though, even for the kid who struggles. Try these ideas to enhance math skills.
Play Math Games To Make Learning Math Fun
Games are an excellent way of developing the brain and improving strategic and analytical thinking. Strategy games such as chess, card games, mental skills games and draughts (checkers) will help to develop the above math skills, as well as enhancing creative thinking, concentration, memory and social skills.
Practice Mental Arithmetic
Playing number games on a regular basis and making the child work out sums in his/her head will certainly improve ability to work with numbers. Set the child tasks such as estimating how many beans are in a cup or how many bricks make up a wall. Introduce math games in the car (such as a competition between the kids to add and subtract the fastest). Be alert for opportunities to practice counting and bonds.
Improve Memory Using Recall Activities
An excellent way to improve memory is to make kids recall information. Read a story and make them answer questions or narrate the story back to you. Help them to make associations between previous knowledge or facts and make practical applications. For example, if helping them a math concept such as measurement and capacity, after learning the facts suggest they bake a cake or cookies and measure out the flour/milk themselves. This practical application of math will reinforce the concept and help the child to remember what they have learned in a workbook.
Encourage Reading
The more kids read and retain what they have read, the more intelligent they will be! Encourage children to read a variety of books – fiction/non fiction and books that will challenge the mind and expand knowledge. Books that teach fascinating things about the world will help them to have a zest for life. Switch off the television and help them discover the magic of wonderful books.
Online Math Courses and Private Math Tutors
Avoid becoming so tied down with the mundane routine of life that the wonder, fascination and beauty of the world is overlooked – children love to learn in this natural way but it also needs to be encouraged.
The child that thinks math is like doing amazing magic tricks is more likely to enjoy studying it and excel. To a child, hours of bookwork and math worksheets, while providing practice, will make math seem like an unpleasant chore that has to be endured.
If a child really battles with math, it will be helpful to hire the services of a private math tutor or arrange for additional remedial help after school. Math should be practiced every day, even during vacation time.
There are plenty of online math courses and educational math games that give kids plenty of help with math practice and for the kid who loves computers, this can be a great way of reinforcing math skills.
Math is a vital skill for such higher education career choices as becoming an Engineer, Software Developer, Analyst, Biologist, Scientist (the list goes on) but also it provides a solid foundation for careers in the manufacturing sector, such as automobile manufacture where there is an increasing need for math skills.
Of course, not every child can be a math expert, but every child should at least be maths literate so he/she can function in today's world.
Sources:
"Helping Your Child Learn Math" - Richard Wiley, Secretary, US Department of Education, July 1999
Fleur Hupston - Fleur Hupston is a professional freelance writer based in Botswana, Southern Africa. From this unique perspective, she writes travel ...
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