Help! My Kid Has a Tutor But Still Has Problems With Math!
I hear this all the time. When a student has difficulty with math, it may not just be the math. There are many learning skills that are taught within the realm of mathematics. Learning math is based on learning skills that include: memorization, logic, and reading comprehension. Logic is a basic necessity to help students solve problems in their future. It helps us to come to basic understandings and conclusions. Reading comprehension is essential to solving word problems. It is important that students be able to read words and understand their intention. Memorization, logic, and comprehension skills, while taught with mathematical concepts are not exclusive to math; however, the curriculum uses math tools to teach and build these skills.
Teaching what to memorize and how to memorize helps students develop that skill for their future. Memorization is needed to develop other skills used in everyday life. Sure, most things can be researched on the Internet. However, you would not want your heart surgeon to have to reference the Internet while performing open-heart surgery on you. Imagine the hourly cost of the mechanic that needs to reference the Internet to replace the oil in your car. The only way to build a strong memory is to practice memorizing. Students practice memorizing numbers, their functions, and formulas to build better memorization tools. Many strategies can be used to help develop memory.
Mathematics teaches children how to think logically. One example is if two even or two odd numbers are added, the result is an even one. Logic is also used in reasoning and deduction. When a route is detoured, drivers use logic to navigate around that road to maintain the desired direction. Good basketball and football players use logic on the fly.
Reading comprehension is essential to everyone. Mortgage agreements and other legal documents should be read and understood before one commits to them. The use of reading comprehension in mathematical word problems helps the student learn how to apply the math concepts so, as adults, we can apply them to our everyday lives.
When a child struggles with mathematics, it may not be the calculations that are difficult, but the memorization, logic and comprehension skills that accompany the math concepts that are causing the problem.
It is important to get help from a provider who will teach the child how to develop all of the skills that are included in learning math.
Marlboro Mann
11:12 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
This story exemplifies what's wrong with the public school system. Due to the hiring and retention of incompetent teachers, students today just don't get it. Hence, you see the proliferation of tutoring and enrichment centers popping up all over town. It is a booming industry not to mention a source of additional income for teachers who give minimal effort during the day, but maximum effort in an after school enrichment setting.
beachlover
11:55 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
And sometimes it's just the competitive parents who think their kids have to be perfect and get straight A's in everything. Yes, there are bad teachers but there are also good ones. Some kids are good at math and some just aren't and never will be no matter how many tutors you hire.
gjc
8:25 am on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Ever check the homework assignments given in grade school classes (grades 1-8) in Manalapan public schools? They are nothing more than HUGE art projects requiring EXTENSIVE parental involvement. Whose homework assignment is it anyway? I think they are given to merely decorate classrooms and hallways. ALL homeowork assignment should be done EXCLUSIVELY by the student. If more time was spent on drilling kids on the basics like times tables, spelling, reading comprehension and yes SCRIPT HANDWRITING, maybe we wouldn't need tutorial programs at all. Don't blame the teachers. I blame the numbnut administrators who insist on these dumb art projects and less basic drilling. I also blame some parents who just love to do these bonehead art projects with their kids to the detriment of their kids basic skills. Computers are great but they don't replace basic thought process skills.
bayboat
9:49 am on Saturday, July 14, 2012
Not "memorization"...Understanding and PRACTICE!
Memorization suggests rote learning with no "deeper understanding" of the function.
You could be taught, by rote memorization to build a car engine. But, if you werent taught HOW the spark plug interacts with the air intake or HOW the pistons are dependant on the oil pump, youd have no REAL understanding of WHY it operates.
First understand WHAT is happening in the problem, and then how/why you have to do the steps to solve...then PRACTICE!
Big Bill
11:47 am on Sunday, July 15, 2012
Schools stopped requiring memorization of multiplication tables years ago. And kids stopped understanding the concepts that followed.
Typical Obama Voter
12:41 pm on Sunday, July 15, 2012
Everything about "learning" is memorization. History math, reading, spelling, religion, science. How can you do anything if you do not memorize the procedures to follow. How can you drive a car if you dont remember to turn the key or put it in drive?
As for schools giving students homework projects that can only be completed with the help of the parents, that is wrong. What about single parents who work two or three jobs? they have no time to help all the children with each homework asignment. I refused to do my childs projects. I help with explaing them but I refused to do them. I also let the schools teachers know why. Home schoolers are beter educated than most public school children and there is a good reason why.
facti vation
2:46 am on Wednesday, January 23, 2013
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