• 8 Ways to Become a Better Mathematician
     
     

    1. Mix in math. The kitchen is filled with tasty opportunities to teach fractional measurements, like doubling and dividing cookie recipes.  Use math whenever you can!

     

    2. Use real world examples. Point out ways that people use math every day to pay bills, balance their checkbooks, figure out their net earnings, make change, and tip at restaurants. Incorporate geometric and algebraic concepts like planting a garden, building a bookshelf, or figuring how long it will take to drive to your family vacation destination.

     

    3. Tune into technology. Use computers and the Internet at home (with parent permission), go to your local library, and attend after-school programs for tasks like developing charts, graphs, and tables.

     

    4. There is nothing to fear but fear itself. Regardless of your own experience with school mathematics, you can develop a love of math.  The more that you practice, the better you will get!

     

    5. Develop fact fluency.  Practice your facts whenever possible.  You can practice them at home, on the bus, in the car... almost anywhere and everywhere!  The more you practice your facts, the more fluent you will become when solving math problems.  

     

    6. Learn math vocabulary.  Math has special words that will help you better understand what you are learning in class.  When you learn a new concept, learn the new vocabulary word that is associated with the topic.  Knowing what those words mean will help you focus on the problems at hand.

     
    7. Explain away!  Once you solve a problem, explain how you solved it.  You can share the explanation with a parent, sibling, friend, or classmate.  When explaining the problem, talk about how you solved it, what numbers you used, and how you got your final answer.  Talking about math is a great tool.
     
     
    8. Practice, practice, practice!  Just like most things in life, the more you practice, the better you will get.  We use math all of the time, so it is important to learn as much as you can.  Ask questions, practice, and be proud of all that you have learned.