Real World Value: Mathematics

Square root of x formula. Symbol of mathematics.

Image via Wikipedia

Mathematics is a fiendish thing: a gathering of cruel numbers and impossible formulas, the angles that refuse to relent. This is your certainty, earned from years of schooling, the drones of instructors who never dared to smile. It’s a subject with no value and no appeal. You’ve gained nothing from it — except frustration. You despise it.

This is a common philosophy. Students — young and old — consider mathematics tedious. They lack all inspiration with it, sure that nothing beyond confusion can be earned. And, once the lessons are done, they toss away all they learned.

This is a mistake — but an easily corrected one. Individuals simply must gain awareness of real applications. Math must be recognized as useful, rather than dull.

Numbers surround us: from observing the price of fashion to crafting budgets to even planning for retirement. Totals define the world. It’s essential that individuals understand this, noting that even their attempts to haggle for better store deals result from math. And, when teachers stress this, the process seems far more appealing.

Applying math is a simple thing. Its basic formulas are involved in daily life. Mastering addition, subtraction, fractions and percentages is therefore necessary — and can provide aid in shops, dealerships and more. Allowing students to see this is vital. It ensures that the lessons are deemed important instead of irritating. Real-life examples must be offered.

Generating interest in math is often considered impossible. It instead merely requires patience, however, and the ability to channel numbers into reality.

 

Enhanced by Zemanta

Can Numbers Be Fun?

Commutative diagram for morphism.
Image via Wikipedia

Studying math in school isn’t commonly considered fun. Children and adults alike may struggle with basic and complex computations, even when they have a good grasp of mathematics. Can numbers be fun? Fun With Numbers, a blog dedicated to celebrated mathematician Andrew Grothendieck, says yes.

Math doesn’t have to feel like a frightening entity, a subject best-reserved for brainy, scientific minds. Fun With Numbers explores how math affects even the ordinary and the everyday, everything from bank loans to the boiling point of water. Using the ideas expressed by Andrew Grothendieck, Fun With Numbers shows that math can be a recreational activity, not just a subject to be studied in school. Grothendieck is a celebrity in the world of mathematics, an award-winning scientist who later refused to accept the many honors heaped upon him.

From competitive math to every day computations, Fun With Numbers explains how math relates to daily life in a casual, relatable way that makes mathematics approachable and easy. Want to pay off a mortgage sooner, become a master at casino games online, figure out how much that auto insurance policy really costs for the coverage it provides? Fun With Numbers shows readers how to do all of this and more. Readers will even have the opportunity to explore competitive math, a world that most people will never experience.

It isn’t just about recognizing math; it’s about knowing exactly how to use it, too. Fun With Numbers helps to turn math into a game, making it easier to grasp the concept of using numbers. It is possible to be entertained by math, and that’s just what this Grothendieck-centric blog explores. The famed mathematician has lived reclusively since 1991, but his ideas and his way with numbers is still the stuff of math legend. Can numbers be fun? Fun With Numbers proves that they are.

Making the Sciences Applicable

A mathematics lecture, apparently about linear...

Image via Wikipedia

Take a poll of current students and you are likely to find that mathematics and science are listed among the most difficult subjects to learn. While numbers and statistics may not come easy to everyone, there are many reasons and ways that these subjects can become not only applicable but also enjoyable to most students.

When it comes to subjects that don’t come “naturally” it’s all about a little effort and a lot of creativity. In other words, the text book might not be the best way for every student to learn. If that’s the case, the first step towards solving the student’s challenge is to identify what does work for that student. What are their loves? What does come naturally to them? After that is determined then you can find the corresponding points where their abilities and interests intersect with the subject at hand.

For example, a student that loves technology might enjoy learning mathematical concepts after using a software-based calculation program (such as Microsoft Excel(r) or OpenOffice Calc(r)) that uses principles of math to create complex equations. A student with business interests will be motivated by learning about a Profit and Loss report and how numbers not only reflect their business accomplishments but can be used as a learning tool to change their business future. Likewise, students interested in health care, environment or sustainability may quickly find the benefits of a science education and how that will not only add to their knowledge base, but their credibility as well.

Fun, Interactive Fourth Grade Math Games

Even though most fourth graders will try to pretend that they are grown up or almost in middle school they really do like to have a little fun while learning certain concepts. A great example of having fun while learning certain concepts is the ability to play some types of interactive math games with the fourth graders to help them learn and understand various math skills. Interactive games are a fun way to reinforce certain concepts that are vital for the students to learn and understand.

Here is a look at some of the interactive math games that some fourth grade teachers will use to help teach their students various math concepts and skills.

Cash Out. This can be a real fun creative game. The teacher will create various objects and items that are for sale. There will be one shopper and one cashier. The shopper will go along and shop through the store and take it to the cashier who will have to make change and add the items up. This can be done in a huge group setting or by breaking the students up into small groups.

Moving Day. Moving Day is another fun game. The teacher will bring in various objects and items that could be used on moving day. Some great examples include a toy car or stuffed animal for pets. Each item will have a tag that shows how much the items weigh. The student will have to figure out what combination will allow them to take as many items as possible without going over the moving day weight limit. This teaches students addition, subtraction and weight systems.

Math Stations for First Graders Part 1

Many first grade teachers have started to use the station concept of teaching. Stations allow students to be broken up into smaller groups and get more one on one time with their teacher as they learn various math concepts. Math is a very popular subject to have various stations in as it allows the teacher to reinforce certain concepts and make sure that each student understands the concept.

Here is a look at some types of math stations that teachers can create for their class. These activities are ideal for children in the first grade.

Money Cans. Money cans are a great way to see if children understand the concept of math. The children will be presented with various containers that contain play coins. You will show them the cans and have them count out the coins. You can record their answers or help them figure out how to add the coins up. This will allow you to see who is grasping the concept of money, who needs more work and what parts might need to be reinforced in the classroom.

Weight Stations. One of the basic math concepts children learn during the first grade is the concept of more, less or equal. Have various cards made up of different situations and have the children work out whether it will be more, less or equal. After they have guessed have them take the objects in the picture and try out the concept first hand. This will allow them to learn research, testing and reinforce the various math concepts that you are trying to teach.

Math Fun That Helps Develop Critical Thinking Skills and Geometric Shape Understanding

Some of the most interesting parts of math is the ability to develop critical thinking skills. Many critical thinking skills do not require the use of having to add up numbers or develop long equations. Instead critical thinking skills can come in handy for real life situations and even fun games. Here is a look at two of the best ways to develop children’s and adult’s critical thinking skills in a fun exciting way.

Tangrams. Tangrams have been used for centuries to help people understand the various geometric shapes. Tangrams show everyone an image of an animal or character and have the students develop that image using a set of geometric shapes. There are hundreds of images that can be developed and put together. If you don’t want to use some of the pre-set images you can have students cut out shapes using a pattern and make their own tangrams. It really is a fun creative way to not only learn about the various geometric shapes but to develop critical thinking skills.

Patterns. Patterns are everywhere in the world. They are on T-shirts, clothing, blankets and in the designing world. However, patterns are a great way to develop geometric shapes and have a bit of fun doing so. Many teachers will give their students various geometric shapes and encourage them to develop their pattern making skills by creating fun and exciting patterns. This activity can also be turned into an art project because the students can then color and design various layouts that will really stand out.