Posts Tagged mental math
Math and the Nontraditional Student – Power Tips to Get Past the Math Barrier
Nontrads (non-traditional students) are those who do not follow the traditional path of completing high school and then immediately enrolling in college or university. They are often over 25 years of age and may have been in the job market or been stay-at-home parents prior to making the decision to pursue a higher education degree or certificate. Some attended college for a semester or two and then dropped out, only to decide later that they want to return and finish a degree. Some have been downsized and are looking for a change in vocation. Most of them share one common concern: getting through the math general studies requirement.
This is a valid concern. Math is developmental in that your knowledge and skills in math are added to in successive courses with each class being a critical stone in the foundation necessary for passing general studies math (often College Algebra or Finite Math). If you had a couple of bad years or if you have been away from math for some time you really won’t know until you try if it is going to be like getting back on a bicycle or getting run over by a truck.
Amazing Benefits Of Mental Math
Today you can define mental math in various different ways. Some would say, memorizing times table and remembering the solutions can form the part of mental mathematics. Some would say ability to perform simple calculations in your head can be mental mathematics. Today there are three formal methods available to learn and practice mental mathematics.
One of the method we all know is quite common, traditional way of rote memorizing the times tables. We all remember those days when some of us dreaded going through the most boring and arduous task of rote memorizing. This method works well however the process of achieving the feat, the ability to flawlessly perform hard, difficult multiplications in head is nothing but plain simply boring. On the other hand this method also has limitations when it comes to performing basic calculations; addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, of large numbers. If you are able to multiply 23 x 12 in your head, that is excellent, and you probably can do it because you have the table memorized. But then what if you have to multiply 3487 x 234 with out any calculator?
Home Schooling Your Child In Math ?
If you enjoyed maths at school – or since leaving school – you will probably already use mathematical language comfortably with your children and find that they understand basic concepts such as the counting numbers and simple fractions at a young age. Unfortunately, a large section of the population found school maths so confusing – or even distressing – that they avoid anything remotely mathematical. Fear of maths can put parents off the whole idea of home education. Yet parents who know little about history or geography don’t find this off-putting, as they usually expect to learn from books as they go along. Parents who are unmusical, or don’t know any foreign languages have few worries about educating their children themselves. But fear of maths is somehow over-riding, and becomes almost irrational.
If this describes you, your fear may be passed on to your children even if they are in school. If they see you looking in horror at their maths homework, they’re unlikely to be inspired and confident! So whether or not you’re considering home education for your children, it’s worth re-thinking your whole attitude to maths.
Mathematics – We’re Counting on Help from Parents
Please don’t give your child an excuse to dislike math by making comments about your own school experiences with it or your distaste for it. It is important for parents to be positive, active supporters of the learning process to help encourage a child. A parent’s attitude can and will influence that of their offspring. Don’t undermine your child’s potential by exposing them to your prejudice toward subjects in school that may have given you difficulty.
Parents need to be aware of and consider the following five areas that relate to mathematics in today’s schools. Giving these ideas some time and thought can provide an overview of the current situation and the role that parents can play in assisting their children in becoming successful in mathematics. Read the rest of this entry »