Be Smart about your Summer at Mathnasium!

A solid Math foundation is vital for children to succeed. Without solid Math skills, children will probably have a lot of trouble in school and afterwards.

Students with weak basic math skills find the subject increasingly confusing and difficult (and get poor grades). You might notice that your child starts to develop math anxiety. When a child develops a solid math foundation, you'll be amazed at how the stress caused by poor math skills disappears. You might even hear your child say that math is fun!

There is a long-standing misconception that math is a subject that some students understand and others simply do not. While some students may possess an inborn talent for mathematics, this is only a small part of the equation when it comes to success in math class. Read on for a closer look at why the concept of the “math person” should be erased to create more positive attitudes toward this challenging subject.

Talent vs. practice

The students who have not had this additional preparation may develop a skewed perception of math class. When these “unprepared” students score low on the first few tests, they harbor an attitude of insecurity in their mathematics skills. Their assumption that certain students score higher on tests because of natural talent causes students to believe that they were just not born with math skills. They may then conclude they are not a “math person.” As this belief can become a self-fulfilling prophecy, it is imperative to help student gain confidence in their math abilities. In reality, practice and adequate study time can cause these skills to click for students and create long-term success in the classroom.

Non-static intelligence

Another belief that can keep students in a cycle of self-doubt and inadequate test preparation is the idea that intelligence is completely static. However, students who have the mindset that you can always become more intelligent tend to get higher grades and show drastic improvement with the application of new study skills. Studies have shown that convincing students to believe they can become smarter by working harder led to better grades.

It is important to note that success in math connects to success in other subjects –and vice versa. A student that is convinced he or she is not a math person can begin to worry about their overall intelligence, and that can lead to larger performance issues in school. Due to the challenges of learning math, students who become successful in math start to believe they can do well in any subject.

Each year the amount of required math compounds from the previous year. Students must understand that their foundations in math must be secure if they are to do well in the coming year. New strategies must be learned to allow for quicker and more accurate computation. Manipulations of math mentally allows for greater flexibility in problem solving. We will provide the opportunity for your child to get ready for next year’s math. Call us at Mathnasium of Oakville (award winning learning centre), if you have any questions or to make an appointment to register child in our summer camps and regular programs. Let’s get your child ready for next year! Our phone number is 905-829-9400. If you wish for further information about Mathnasium of Oakville programs, please visit our website at www.mathnasium.com/oakville

Sincerely, Sehba Tahir Mathnasium Learning Center, Director