Thursday, March 4, 2010

The Biggest Secret to Mastering Math

Whether we realize it or not, Math is used on a daily basis.  For some, Mathematics is a part of one’s everyday job, while others use Math less sparingly throughout the workday.  Math is used in cooking, baking, shopping, banking and paying bills. Mastering Math is an essential part of life and it is imperative that students be taught Math so that they can support themselves in all facets of life.  
 
A lot of kids and students excel in creative subjects such as English and Art, while many struggle in Mathematics.  While  Mastering Math can be a daunting subject, it is a necessity and must be learned regardless of one’s career goals. Math is all around us and we typically deal with Mathematics on a daily basis whether it is realized or not.

Many students are afraid of Math because they see it as intimidating and scary. Would you want to know what is the biggest secret to  Mastering Math?
There is only a way to empower students into mastering Math: it is to make it fun and relatable.

In order for Math to stay in the forefront it must be kept interesting! 
Adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing can be confusing to some so it’s important to keep it simple. For instance, teachers and trainers can use candy to instruct students on addition and subtraction and can use pictures of pies and pizzas to explain multiplication and division.

If you’re a parent or tutor, try to use cooking as a fun way to teach Math.  Make a pizza with your student and have them apply different toppings in ¼, ½, ¾ etc.  By using pizza as a fraction, you are keeping the student interested but also are showing them that mastering Math is important in everyday life.
Regardless if students excel in Math or not, many wonder when algebra or long division will come in handy and not having answers may leave them frustrated.  Providing students with real life situations and examples is a great way to keep Math on their minds. 

Try setting up a role playing game or have your students act out situations that deal with Math such as grocery shopping or buying clothes.  Having students act out shopping with one another breaks up the monotony of the day and gives students something to look forward to during the day.  Coming up with a trivia or classroom game with students keeps Math pleasant and encourages class participation.

Math is imperative to all of our lives.  No matter how much a student likes or dislikes Math, it is important that they realize how much Math will affect their lives.  Computers and Science are often based around Math, so students must know that if they are interested in these subjects, they must learn and  Mastering Math.

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