Every lower-grade teacher I know has huge numbers of students who love math but the older they get, the more those numbers shrink until by Middle School, they’re anemic, at best. The solution according to some students, is to instill the cerebral skills that support math prior to kindergarten. Here’s a great article from ASCD and EdSource on that subject:
Math in early childhood is key, studies show
Studies show that mathematical reasoning ability is crucial in early education, and when children understand math before entering elementary school, they have higher achievement on both reading and math tests later in their school years. Carolyn Pfister, an education administrator for the California State Board of Education, said many adults have math anxiety that has been passed to children.
For more on math, read these articles:
Need math resources? Have students try these
15+ Websites to Teach Financial Literacy
Quick Review of 7 Popular Math Programs
Jacqui Murray has been teaching K-18 technology for 30 years. She is the editor/author of over a hundred tech ed resources including a K-12 technology curriculum, K-8 keyboard curriculum, K-8 Digital Citizenship curriculum. She is an adjunct professor in tech ed, Master Teacher, webmaster for four blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice, CSTA presentation reviewer, freelance journalist on tech ed topics, and author of the tech thrillers, To Hunt a Sub and Twenty-four Days. You can find her resources at Structured Learning.
I think it’s sad that many students learn to be anxious about maths. That’s a trend that needs to be turned around.
There are some great programs that take the anxiety out of math, but not enough people know about them. Khan Academy does a good job of that. I love math, and both of my kids do. Something went right!
I do and mine do too, as do my grandchildren.
Have you heard of the new puzzles Wordle and Nerdle? Wordle for words and Nerdle for maths.
When my grandson (12yo) was over yesterday we did our first Nerdle puzzle together. Neither of us had seen it before. We were quite pleased with our result. Today he did one on his own and shared the result with me. It was quite challenging. Tomorrow we’ll do the next one and share our results again. He’s initiated this. I think it’s great. I wasn’t going to suggest it as sometimes children can be deflated if they don’t do as well as adults, but he just might pip me on this one. We completed yesterday’s puzzle together in four moves. And each finished today’s (independently) in four moves as did his dad (my son). It will be interesting to see how we progress. 🙂
I’ve heard of Wordle but not Nerdle. Never tried them. You make me want to, Norah.
It’s such fun, Jacqui, and only one of each a day so not too much of a time drain.