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When you're young, starting your journey into the world of mathematics can seem like climbing Mount Everest. When some kids learn maths, every part of it is difficult. However, if the child has enough guidance from a good tutor from an early age, there is no reason that they should not succeed in maths. So if you're asking yourself whether your child is capable of learning their times tables, addition and subtraction and even reasoning, the answer is of course! This is because although maths is a vast subject, its many levels are taught according to the age and therefore intellectual maturity of the pupils. This approach gives children the fundamental skills they need for the rest of their lives, such as:
- Confidence in their abilities
- Opening doors to careers in mathematics and science
- Problem-solving and understanding why decisions have been made
- Developing IT skills
- Learning to manage time and money in day-to-day life
With the help of an enthusiastic teacher, maths worksheets and exercises, and examples of the real-world applications of maths, students can discover a whole world of algebra, geometry, probability and statistics and graphing. Even if you have struggled with maths in the past, keep in mind that your children are different and, because of their age, have their brains in the perfect state for learning how to tackle math problems. This article has all you need to know about helping children to learn maths.
Starting Young is Beneficial for Learning Maths in the Long Run
According to a study by Michele Mazzocco from the University of Minnesota, children under six years of age find it easiest to develop the aptitude to learn basic math skills in their preschool or kindergarten years. For example, kids can be taught basic geometry or symmetry by building towers with toy bricks such as Lego, which they can also use to understand division and sharing. Interactive math games and activities can be easily invented at home, or you can find free math games online where the learner is free to play math games for kids and take timed maths tests or quizzes to try our their skills. There are also many websites such as BBC Bitesize Maths which provide free math lessons in the form of math videos which explain concepts such as number sense, counting, estimation, comparing, rounding, mathematical vocabulary, scientific notation, multiplication and division, telling time, place value, order of operations, adding and subtracting and arithmetic. The internet has plenty free printable math worksheets and free online maths games for practicing skills learnt in class including fun math logic games for kids, puzzles, jigsaws, sudoku, word problems, multiplication games and addition games - there is a game for pretty much everything! Time for opinion-giving: what use are multiplication tables when, everywhere, calculators abound?
The Importance of the a Maths Teacher's Knowledge
To teach maths, an educator should not only be appropriately qualified, but they should also be enthusiastic about their subject.
The more enthusiastic the teacher, the deeper their knowledge of maths in the real world will be - which can be beneficial for the academic career of their pupils, who become more interested in the subject as their teacher shares their passion.
Having a shared enthusiasm for maths means students are more likely to take a personal interest in the subject, increasing their chances of maths mastery. We always hear about children being 'emotional sponges', so it's up to the teacher to use this and put all of their teaching methods, knowledge, and motivation into action to ensure that their pupils feel free to ask questions and get involved with their education.
The Importance of a Positive Mindset with Maths Tuition
With children as well as with adults, the question of the state of mind is paramount and will contribute to their future academic success. Children who maintain a positive mindset are the most open to math learning and believe that they will always be able to improve their level of knowledge. They are more likely to do well in comparison to those who have a basic, closed mindset, who feel limited by their abilities, while they see others progress and succeed.
Mentalities can change and develop over time as children gain more life experience.
If you try to overcome a problem, you will find it hard to find a solution with parents or teachers who do not expect you to succeed, which makes it even harder to do well. When this issue is applied to maths, students start to believe that the subject simply isn't for them. Maths should not be memorised. As a practical subject, the best way to learn math is to put it into practice. Is the myth that boys are better than girls at Maths true? We debunk the maths myth here.
Learning to Change Your Mindset in Maths Lessons
During a maths workshop in 2003, researchers discovered that a group of year 12 students had a better ability to learn and develop new skills. Students were told that their brain was a muscle and therefore, every time they learned a new technique, they 'enlarged' their brain, making it easier to learn new things the future. As a result of their participation in the workshop, the students firmly believed that they could acquire new skills and have better grades with small efforts and regular maths practice. This actually shows how an open mindset can be taught by parents and teachers, and that a certain approach to teaching mathematics can change the opinions of students who previously thought that their abilities were just like anyone else's. A program that developed skills that are useful for learning, such as a student's belief in their own ability to learn maths would be a very powerful tool.
Is Every Child Capable of Learning Maths?
The answer is more complicated than a simple 'yes' or 'no'. With the right environment, a good source of encouragement and suitable learning strategies, children have the ability to build on their natural curiosity and develop useful skills as well as a love of maths, giving them a better chance of success in the future.
How can a Private Maths Tutor Help?
One way to get the right environment, as well as encouragement and advice, is to find a one on one in-person or online maths tutor. Unlike the traditional maths for schools or lectures in college, one-to-one tuition is tailored to your personal learning styles with your goals in mind, to provide a personalised and therefore effective service. The one-to-one nature of private tuition means that you have the full, undivided attention of your math tutor, unlike at school where the maths teacher has to divide their attention between up to 30 pupils, making it nearly impossible to cater for the levels of all the children. At first, you will work together with your tutor to determine your strengths and weaknesses in mathematics. You could choose work on specific topics such as fractions, decimals probabilities, geometry, algebraic equations or data management, depending on your goals.
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