| How often has your child said, "I don't like math!" | | | | Did you know that at least 66% of adults have |
| "I just don't get math!" I can't learn math!" | | | | strong negative feelings about math! This is largely |
| Compared to reading, parents are more tolerant | | | | due to poor teaching adults received in school. |
| of problems in math. But math is very important | | | | These negative feelings are easy to communicate |
| in children's lives and future careers. Many of the | | | | to your child. When children feel negative about a |
| fastest growing occupations require math through | | | | school subject, they unconsciously engage in |
| algebra and even calculus. | | | | self-sabotaging behaviors such as tuning out in |
| Math is the most cumulative subject in school. | | | | class, not doing their homework, not asking |
| Therefore, if your special needs child falls behind, | | | | questions when they don't understand, and not |
| he is particularly prone to developing "gaps" in | | | | practicing the concepts and skills enough to make |
| knowledge that will haunt him in future years. | | | | them automatic. |
| Elementary teachers do a poor job of teaching | | | | This starts a vicious cycle of failure...as the |
| math | | | | student "back away" from learning math, he or |
| Math is the most poorly taught subject in school, | | | | she begins to fall behind in learning, and this |
| particularly in elementary school. Research has | | | | creates even more dislike and avoidance. |
| proven that elementary teachers are | | | | Eventually, what's called learned helplessness sets |
| uncomfortable with math-not only with teaching | | | | in. |
| math, but with using mathematical principles in | | | | This enemy robs a child of their power. This |
| their own lives. In fact, many elementary | | | | beast whispers in a child's ear phrases such as |
| teachers suffer from math anxiety themselves. | | | | "you're stupid" "you'll never learn this stuff" "who |
| Therefore, most elementary teachers are not | | | | are you kidding, you don't need this" and the |
| good influences on the mathematical learning and | | | | ever-present "this is boring" |
| attitudes of their students. | | | | These self-destructive messages tear at a child's |
| The combination of a teacher's poor | | | | resolve, limit what he or she can learn, and reduce |
| understanding of mathematical concepts, | | | | future educational and career options. |
| inadequate knowledge of teaching methods in | | | | Tip #3 |
| mathematics, and limited knowledge about | | | | If you have negative feelings about math, make a |
| modifying teaching approaches to reach learners | | | | conscious effort to change these feelings, and |
| with atypical learning profiles can create dismal | | | | encourage your children to feel positively about |
| results for special needs children. | | | | math. Praise your child's efforts, especially when |
| Tip #1 | | | | the going is tough. |
| Stress to your children the importance of | | | | Math has to "make sense" in order for your child |
| mathematics in their lives and careers. | | | | to want to learn it |
| Jobs in science and technology require a strong | | | | Students respond to a program that puts |
| knowledge of math, and play a vital role in the | | | | understanding and enjoyment into math. They |
| advancements that give us our standard of living. | | | | benefit from meaningful learning experiences that |
| Students who understand mathematics have | | | | overcome frustration with "math that just doesn't |
| dramatically more career opportunities than | | | | make sense." They learn concepts and |
| students whose math abilities are weak. | | | | computation more quickly from real life situations. |
| The level of math sophistication is much greater | | | | Tip #4 |
| for today's students | | | | Show children how math is used in their lives. |
| Because the nature of math education has | | | | At stores, have them develop mental arithmetic |
| morphed dramatically since most parents went to | | | | skills by adding up the cost of a few items, by |
| school, often parents find themselves beginning to | | | | estimating sales tax, or by figuring out the cost |
| struggle with math concepts when their child | | | | of one can of soda from the price of a six-pack. |
| reaches middle school. | | | | Put some fun into math by playing games while |
| If a special needs child has struggles with math, | | | | riding in the car or standing in line. For "Guess My |
| parents need to face the harsh truth that they | | | | Secret Identity," give your child clues such as, |
| may not stand in the ideal position to help their | | | | "When divided by three, I'm equal to your age," |
| child themselves, particularly when math becomes | | | | or "If you add 22 to me, I'm the length of a |
| conceptually difficult. Due to the history in the US | | | | football field." Be playful and creative and have |
| of poor math teaching, parents may have limited | | | | your child make up riddles for you to solve. |
| knowledge of mathematics and may not | | | | "Summing in all up" |
| appreciate the central role math plays in the lives | | | | Special needs kids want to succeed in life and |
| of today's citizens. | | | | their parents want to do everything possible to |
| Tip #2 | | | | help them succeed. If you are among the |
| If you are finding that you do not completely | | | | majority of parents who have negative attitudes |
| understand the work your child is bringing home, | | | | toward math, feel your math skills are inadequate, |
| you should bow out of the "direct teaching" role. | | | | and express your feelings opening to your child, I |
| Direct teaching involves explaining concepts and | | | | urge you to make every effort to eliminate these |
| procedures to your child, much as a teacher or | | | | tendencies from your parenting repertoire! |
| tutor would. If you don't fully understand the | | | | Even if you have, up until now, suffered from the |
| math you are teaching your child, you and your | | | | power-robbing demon of math self-doubt, your |
| child run the risk of ingraining inaccurate beliefs | | | | children can learn math skills and can appreciate |
| and inefficient habits that can take months to | | | | the wonderful role math plays in their lives. But |
| undo. | | | | they can't do it without your support and |
| Math anxiety is rampant in the U.S. | | | | encouragement! |