Building a Strong Foundation In Math: Simple and Easy Steps

Math is my favorite subject…  and it’s my favorite for a reason. It’s beauty lies in its accuracy. There can never be two different answers for a math problem, yet there are many ways to find the right answer. Isnt that amazing?

Universal in it’s nature, anyone and everyone can understand this language…  All that is needed is a little observation and a whole lot of intuition!

This is my sixth year of homeschooling and in this time,  a lot of learning has happened. It’s not just my kids but I have had my share of learning as well. Some of this, I have shared in this video. Math is a skill based subject and an important one too.

I have a simple strategy that I keep in mind whenever I teach math. It is more like a general guideline. This exact same strategy is also beneficial in resolving any difficulty that comes up with a concept. I have recorded a detailed video where I go over all the steps. I have also  shared examples of the different kinds of materials which can be used to aid the teaching.

Whether you buy them or make them or create opportunities from your everyday life, these concrete hands on experiences with math will build a strong foundation for your children which will continue to benefit them. When it comes to math, you do not want learning gaps or deficient understanding of concepts because it builds on top of what has already been learnt. This aspect of math makes it critical for us parents and educators to pay close attention to the early years.

Giving children access to hands on materials, and using a multi sensory approach will eliminate a lot of heartaches in the later years because these techniques can really help them ‘understand’ and ‘experience’ math with clarity. I have shared very simple techniques which you probably may have heard of and you may be using them already. But I want to emphasize that it’s the consistency that truly matters. It’s the amount of time spent on these steps which is critical. We tend to move on to the workbooks too soon and rely on them too often. As educators our focus needs to be on making the subjects enjoyable and challenging. People who are good at math see it as a fun activity and they enjoy the element of challenge in it. Watch the video to learn more