Telling time is an important skill for all children to master. Punctuality depends upon knowing what time it is. Here are some suggestions for helping students understand. The Judy Clock The Original Judy Clock (trademarked) is an unbeatable tool for teaching relationships between minutes, seconds, and hours. Real gears ensure the integrity of the relationships as the clock’s hands are […]
The best teachers never stop learning. Here are some resources to help you become an even better tutor or teacher. The “Asian” Method Arvin Vohra gives an overview of his philosophy and methods of math tutoring in his book, The Equation for Excellence. Many of his ideas run counter to conventional wisdom. Agree or disagree with him, but let him make you think about why you teach the way you do. He includes information about preparing students for high scores on SAT math tests as well as information on motivating boys versus girls. Prepare to be challenged. Look Internationally for Ideas Check out this analysis of lessons presented in Germany, Japan, and the United States. Perhaps some of your students could benefit from a fresh approach. There is always something to learn about teaching. One lesson to learn from the Japanese, for instance, is professional development. Teachers work together to perfect a lesson on a specific topic, watch a teacher present the lesson to a class, then work to improve that lesson yet again. Never be complacent. Challenge Yourself Try learning a new academic skill yourself. Remember what it was like to not yet know the math you now teach. Pick up a book on astrophysics, philosophy, or even basket weaving. Let yourself feel “lost” for a bit. Then go back to your students with fresh empathy for their struggles. Get Feedback from Students Be sure students feel free to […]
Measurements are important in so many daily activities. Give students a variety of practice opportunities so they learn accuracy. Volume Gather a variety of containers of different shapes and sizes. Let students rank each container from smallest amount to largest amount. Then fill the largest container, pour it into the next largest (be sure to do this over a basin […]
Great leaders, thinkers, and innovators throughout history have generally been great readers. Readers can teach themselves – learn from people past and present. Reading is also a rewarding lifelong hobby and pleasant recreation. Help children learn to love reading instead of thinking it is just a subject in school. Model Reading Be sure children see adults reading for pleasure and […]
The mother who teaches at home need not feel alone in her efforts. The Internet is full of blogs that can encourage a homeschool mom or help her solve specific problems with teaching and learning. Start with these eight: The Homeschool Mom The Homeschool Mom is a blog and library of homeschooling articles. Planning is stressed, along with creative writing […]
Math students benefit from a highly skilled teacher. How fortunate to now live in a world where such teachers are widely available through YouTube! Even with a great math teacher, sometimes it is helpful to hear another explanation of a concept from a teacher with a slightly different approach. Here are six channels to explore: Khan Academy Khan Academy is […]
One major difference between successful businessmen and others is that successful businessmen are good with numbers. Actually they are pretty good with numbers. One reason your child might just not become a successful businessman is that he is afraid of numbers. And Math is all about numbers. As your child grows, Math gets tougher and tougher. Let’s delve deeper into […]
Life gets hectic when children go back to school. A new year brings new classes, new teachers, and new opportunities and challenges. Make the most of the transition to a new academic year with these tips. Master Your Family Schedule Take control of your time by keeping everyone’s schedule on a single calendar. For many families, a large dry-erase board […]
Common Core Standards are popular and prevalent in most educational institutions these days. However, some experts in the education industry feel that it could be several years before its impact is felt on education and schools. Others think that the shift towards Common Core learning will be revolutionary. This debate is likely to continue for many years, as the media […]
Math worksheets, while not a complete curriculum, are excellent aids in maintaining hard-won math skills through practice. Skills not practiced may be lost. Fortunately, there are several excellent websites for students, parents, tutors and teachers. Here are five places worth checking out. Math Drills https://www.math-drills.com/ This site is comprehensive and easy to navigate, as well as free. A sidebar makes […]
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