Math Can Be Made Simple
Updated: May 1
Posted on October 26, 2012 at 4:31 PM
“The essence of mathematics is not to make simple things complicated, but to make complicated things simple.” ~ by S. Gudder
Do any of these phrases sound familiar?
“The math I am learning in school is never going to be used in real life.”
“I hate math”
“Math is too hard”
“I do not have any math homework (translation: I don’t understand it)”
As a parent and educator, I have heard these phrases and more whenever the topic of math is mentioned. A firm grasp of mathematical concepts, though necessary, can be scary at any age.
Below are three ways to make math more hands on, practical, and fun.
1. Use snack time to teach your student about sharing (fractions).
2. Have your student help you make a meal using a recipe (fractions, proportions).
3. Take your student grocery shopping, with a list and set dollar amount and have them keep track of how much money is being spent (adding & subtracting money and budgeting).
I cannot promise that your student will love math, but together we can take some of the sting out of learning math.