Is Your Child "On Board" with Improving in Math?

One of my favorite quotes is the famous Henry Ford one, "Whether you think you can, or think you can't - you're right!" It's all about attitude. A recent study defended that it is possible to change your success level in math by changing your attitude. Students who continue to think they can't do it, will likely prevent future academic advances in the subject.  

While we certainly have a balanced mix of kids who struggle with math with the kids who visit Mathnasium of 4S Ranch for math enrichment, we see progress every day. Struggling students who are "on board" with the reality of their math situation, know it isn't going to fix itself overnight. There is an investment of time and practice, and possibly even some remedial lessons to build that foundation.  Once those parts become easier, the next level is easier. Slowly but surely, progress is made, grades go up, confidence is built, and more!  If you have a good math base, the lessons in school become easier to follow, you can structure questions for your teacher in such a way that you learn more concretely (instead of "I don't get it." try, "I see where I had to do ______, but what I don't understand is why I then do ___.")

Two tips to get your child "on board:"

• Get them to believe that the work will pay off once the investment is made. Kids who don't believe they can won't bother trying.
• What is their motivation?  If it solely is for better grades, that is great, but statistically speaking greater increases come from kids who are interested in the subject. At Mathnasium we say "Kids don't hate math, they hate being confused and intimidated by math. With understanding comes passion. And with passion comes growth - a treasure is unlocked."

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/being-good-at-math-is-not-about-natural-ability-2013-11#ixzz3EisyIWCd

Image Retrieved 9/29/14:  http://www.lorensworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/128000814379780740_tqmONAO5_c.jpg

Teachers are Always Students

One of the things I love most about being involved in education is that you never stop being a student yourself.  Our focus at Mathnasium of 4S Ranch is always on what we can do as instructors to make math make sense to our students.

Last week I had the privilege of spending the day with Larry Martinek, the creator and Chief Educational Officer of Mathnasium.  He shared great strategies in working with Common Core and providing that extra something that makes kids feel successful every visit!

Many of his comments tied back to early numerical fluency and the roadblock it presents to further math success. This summer Mathnsium launched a program exclusive to Numerical Fluency and making those numbers come more automatically by using a strategy that slowly becomes effortless.
We also discussed the importance of students being placed in a math class appropriate to their abilities upon middle school - algebra readiness is what it is called in the education world. While we cannot make specific recommendations, much of our data collected through our diagnostic testing is sound evidence if a student is on the right path based on their skill set and if additional progress is necessary to improve classroom grades and understanding.

Larry hasn't let the substantial growth of the Mathnasium brand break his focus on why we do what we do.  Every ounce of his being is dedicated to the curriculum that he and his team create for our students. It was a great day for inspiration!

What is Procedural Fluency in Math?

Numerical Fluency is an essential part of math success. Kids who do not know their facts often struggle with more complex skills.  Once mastered, Procedural Fluency is next in line!  "I know my facts, but now what??? How do I use them? Which one do I use when?" Often, this shows up late in elementary school or middle school, when the breadth of problem solving strategies have been covered and it is up to the student to begin applying independently.

Can your student give themselves the kickstart necessary to attack a problem? Do they sit there staring at the page not knowing where to start? These could be signs that they lack the confidence to get themselves going.

Procedural Fluency is a student's ability to understand the material with such depth that they can apply the ideal problem solving method correctly and efficiently. I call this building your mathematical toolbox. There are often times that two or three tactics will work, but which is the most efficient? Which leaves less room for error (why turn a two step problem into a five step problem and risk a mistake or two along the way?) and saves time when the clock is ticking.

So how is Procedural Fluency developed? Practice. Exposure. Experience. Modeling by professionals. Through formal lessons in the classroom or with a quality math tutor, students build an arsenal of skills and tactics to move through a problem. They draw on their numeric fluency skills, they choose a strategy that makes sense, and they assess for reasonableness. A student secure in their procedural fluency can often find a second way to solve the same problem to justify their answer.

It is never too late to build a math toolbox! If your child has the numeric skills, but struggles with Procedural Fluency, give Mathnasium of 4S Ranch a call! Our math tutors will provide the instruction and support to help them grow!

To learn more, visit the NCTM website:  http://www.nctm.org/about/content.aspx?id=42833
Clip Art retreived on 8/30/14 from: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nG-Pu03lq-aLheYIj9keGjuqFc5CUomLhzrryn37GH2kymlHw8DJ2bBnrryZ1xnWgcLrum7N7UjI1EouVv6wSnWpmh-e-KwxH-lwnzXU6ecuIZH2guOaRUS3SSDzof4qmvVsy4_5-vXn/s1600/Math-problems-dyscalculia2.jpg

National Honesty Day is Today

I didn't even know such a day existed such a day existed, but today is National Honesty Day. Apparently it was created to balance out the fact that the month is kicked off by April Fools Day.  So a few "honest truths" about math. I learned these after taking a Stanford course last summer:

• There is no such thing as a "math person" or a "non-math person." 
• Mindsets concerning math can be changed, but it takes time and effort, so those that consider themselves "non-math people" need to know they have the power to makes things different
• Mistakes in math are learning opportunities - sticking to it and powering through a tough concept may come with bumps and bruises, but ultimately makes for a better mathematician
• Boys are not better at math than girls. Girls are just as capable.

So if math is "hard" for your student, or if you are fearful of projecting your "non-math person" identity onto your child, know it can be turned around.  Will it necessarily be easy - No. I have to be honest about that. The reality is, a student's future is highly dependent upon the opportunities they seize earlier in life, so working hard and "getting it" in elementary school leads to opportunities in middle school. Solid middle school performances opens the doors to advanced math and AP classes in high school which translate into getting into a four-year college, or even a select university, in the major of your choice. 

Parents Helping with Homework Could Hurt Them

My morning routine always includes a news update from the Today Show. I will admit it is not exactly the hardest hitting news each day, but I love their balance between human interest and global segments. This morning they discussed The Broken Compass, a new book trending in American about how providing too much help, or helping too often, can actually negatively impact your student.

The book analyzed surveys of American families taken by the US Department of Education over the past thirty years. The ideas of parents "taking the reigns" or "taking over" during homework time, thus not allowing the child to do most of the work, dominates and is considered to be counterproductive to the cause.  The goal would be for the kids to do as much work as possible, with you as a support system, so they can independently complete tests and quizzes successfully when in class (and away from the overhelping parent).

The Today Show joked about their own personal experiences in helping their own elementary kids with homework, but who can honestly say they have not uttered these same words at the end of a long day: "Let's get this over with" or the frustration you feel when something so clear to you isn't clear to your child,  "It's right in front of you! The answer is right there!"

At Mathnasium of 4S Ranch, we provide the support system at homework time. Students will work with an instructor on a sampling of problems, and once they show understanding are released to complete some work independently. This builds confidence in the concept. Instructors then return to check over work and reteach if necessary.  When kids walk out our doors they know they were the ones doing the work, not us, and their success in the classroom improves.

Math Help: Don't Become a Math Mummy

At this time of year it is easy to go into panic mode and pull out all the stops for getting your child "over the line" when it comes to their math class.  I have parents who come in daily looking for a quick fix when it comes to getting math tutoring or math homework help.  Please be careful in finding that silver bullet to make all the math problems go away; it pretty much doesn't exist.  If math has been following a downward trend line the past couple of years, it is necessary to go bad and rebuild. If it took months and years for this problem to escalate, it won't take a month to get back on track.

Chances are if they are struggling there is a reason. Putting a bandaid on a concept works for the short term, but too many bandages holding together a math student is heading for trouble. The student will start to look like this dude - scared, confused, panicked, and unprepared.

First of all, address the problem before it gets out of hand.  If you are already at crisis point, make the necessary investment to gain those concepts currently missing.  Sometimes you have to take those two steps back to move one step forward.  Quick fixes don't address the deep down issues preventing success. Setting reasonable expectations and having patience to let your child learn for mastery, not in a race-like situation, is key for long term success.

Turning Math Errors into Opportunities

Thankfully this year there is a reprieve on standardized testing in California. If there is one lesson learned while I was in Texas during our little testing hiatus last year, do not take this "gift" for granted. The accountability still stands, whether formal or informal. The math material covered in this school year plays a direct role in how successful a student will be next year.  If you are noticing a slide now do all that is possible to stop the trend. As math builds upon itself, the slide will continue if not addressed as early as possible.

With spring officially here, school is in its homestretch and sooner or later some form of end of year assessment will take place.  Encourage your student to learn from past mistakes to increase their success. Some teachers use a type of "Reflection Report" where the students have to categorize the type of mistake made to bring awareness to yourself so you do not go on repeating the same error. Once students have that "ah-ha" moment they tend to avoid making it again in the future. It is often eyeopening for kids to see how their scores were impacted by repeating the same type of error many times in a row.

For your student to benefit from their mistakes, it is best to reference old homework, quizzes and tests and track where points were lost. Did they out and out get the whole problem wrong because they are deficient in a concept?  Did they rush and not really answer what was asked?  Are their facts off? Did they lose a point here and there due to "not reducing" or "labeling" their units? Next time they prepare for a test, any test, have them consider the following:

Concept Mistakes:  This is when your problem solving process is off-course. You may not understand or mix up the steps it takes to reach a solution. You are multiplying instead of adding, you forgot to take the reciprocal of a number, you aren't combining like terms, you needed to convert something first. Do I need to practice more of these types of problems or meet with a math tutor and have it retaught to me? If they struggle with adding or subtracting mixed numbers, chances are a quiz with ten of these problems will not go well.

Comprehension Mistakes:  You are solving for the first part of the problem, but missing the second part in multistep problems. The question asks for which one is NOT but your answer solves for which IS. Make sure you reread the question to make sure your solution has an appropriate answer. Did I solve for the type of unit they are asking me for? Do I understand the vocabulary in the question so I know what I am supposed to do?

Calculation Errors:  Did you forget to regroup?  Did you not take your solution to its lowest terms as required? Were all like terms combined properly? Is my place value off because my writing was not aligned or slightly sloppy? Am I rushing too much?  Many times the kids complete the process 100% correctly (the more difficult part of problem solving) but if their facts are off they will never get the right answer.

These details are the difference between grade they currently have and one that is a level or two higher for middle and high school students. In elementary school it is the difference between getting a 2 on the report card or a 3 or a 4. The details build confidence in a child's mathematical ability.  For younger students in elementary math, their attention to detail leads to prealgebra and algebra success. Algebra success leads to higher scores in more complex math courses students take in high school.

At Mathnasium of 4S Ranch we build a students confidence by working with them on concepts they struggle with or introduce new concepts to broader their math world. We set up good habits from the start that ensure future success so kids go into their classrooms feeling prepared.

Click here for the full article from Business Wire with an interview by Mathnasium founder and Chief Instructional Officer Larry Martinek.
Image retrieved on 3/19/14 from here.

The "Common Core" Way to Problem Solve

I honestly can't remember the source of this picture, although it came across my Facebook news feed repeatedly.  As parents, we know how we learned math.  The teacher showed us the traditional algorithm and we just did it. Concerned moms and dads constantly come into our center frustrated because they can't help their student since they "aren't doing it right."

Why does it have to be this way? Why are Common Core Standards making it more complicated? That is a huge national debate I will let the experts defend, but it is our kid's reality for now.  The powers that be want the kids to know where the numbers are coming from and improve number sense. For many kids, they don't need all the pitstops along the way to get to the answer and the requirement of dragging out a solution actually becomes a huge turn off of math in general, or leads to careless mistakes, or leaves them more confused than just going with the "old school" way.

At Mathnasium of 4S Ranch we are striving to support our students in the ways presented by their teachers, but to also let kids know sometimes there are other ways to reach the same answer. Isn't the bottom line 32-12=20. Kids need to build up their own personal toolbox of math kids that make sense to them so they can think on their feet in the real world.  All this work for 32-12 is for an early elementary math student, just imagine something more complex and the steps for prealgebra, algebra, geometry, trig or calculus!  No wonder frustrated parents are seeking out quality math tutoring.

This is why I love our tagline: We Make Math Make Sense. Visit or call our center in 92127 to learn more.

What Makes Algebra Easier

I can't say these concepts make algebra easy, but definitely easier. Isn't that the goal? To make something completely understandable by having the proper math foundation that each lesson logically flows to the next?  For that to happen, a student's brick wall of math can't have missing bricks!

The National Math Advisor Panel stated way back in 2008 that there are three critical skills that students must master for algebra to go smoothly. They are:

1. Effortless recall and fluency of basic math facts
2. Fluency with fractions and how they interchange with decimals and percentages
3. Certain aspects of geometry and measurement

To become fluent may occur naturally to some, but for others it takes practice.  Having a firm grip on where the numbers are coming from is a start. How do you turn a fraction into a decimal? Or vice versa? Does your student "get" that percents, fractions and decimals are three ways to show something of the same value?  That if we shared a cookie equally, I would get 50%, or 1/2, of .5 of that cookie. That benchmark is fairly easy, but what if there were eight of us sharing a twelve-cut pizza? I would get 11/2 slices, which is 1/8 of the pizza, or 12.5% of the pizza, or .125 of it.  If you know the mathematical process, you should be able to figure out sharing that pizza if there are seven people or 15 people.

Algebra readiness is essential since all prior math leads to algebra and your student's success in the course.  Success in algebra leads to further success for all future math. The pressure to get your child in algebra as early as possible is high but don't let it push your child into a math path they are not equipped to handle. Once they are in it they are in it. It can be a challenging and exciting path, or four years or frustration and struggle.

This summer Mathnasium of 4S Ranch will offer sessions to prepare your child for what lies ahead. Consider our summer sessions which include a "punch card" format to work flexibly with your summer plans.  Get their brain charged with algebraic thinking and practice the essential skills with quality math instructors who make math make sense so algebra is understood from Day 1. We are here to help!

Image retreived 2/19/14:  http://www.a4maths.com.au/userfiles/images/brickwall%20falling%20small.jpg

"Getting" Fractions Leads to Algebra Success

Fractions. We start off learning about them as sharing a pizza or a cookie equally among "x" number of people and it takes off from there. It is said among algebra teachers across the country, that having the ability to work flexibly with fractions (plus have great multiplication skills and a certain number of geometry and measurement skills, but I'll save that for another post) is essential for algebra success. It can be a matter of making or breaking your math path.

So how do we know if our kid is up for the algebra challenge? Are they "algebra ready?" Math standards even call these requisite skills algebra readiness for a reason. You need them to be ready for algebra.  These skills begin as young as third grade and build in complexity, so keeping up with the ramp up is key.

Students should be able to:

• Recognize patterns with fractional parts and be able to "decompose" a fraction to its smallest form (EX: 3/4 = 1/4 + 1/4 + 1/4)
• Find and create equivalent fractions 
• Add, subtract, multiply and divide fractions with common or uncommon denominators

Somewhere along the way, fractions no longer became sharing pizza and cookies, it became probability, ratios, proportions, unit rates, and then comes algebra. Working flexibly with the whole numbers and fractional numbers is critical, but efficiency is just as important. If too much effort is expended on these "nuts and bolts" items, then they begin to slow down the problem solving process.  

If you find your child is not efficient or successful in their fraction sense, they could benefit from Mathnasium of 4S Ranch's program. We build a custom learning plan just for them and their needs and introduce every lesson in a way that makes sense to them. 

Common Core Math Standards can be reviewed here:  http://www.corestandards.org/assets/CCSSI_Math%20Standards.pdf

When Should You Get a Math Tutor for Your Student?

PBS recently ran an article on their website for parents struggling with when to hire a math tutor for their child.  Sometimes it is a pretty concrete clue: Grades are on the decline. Sometimes it is more of an instinct: Noticing avoidance strategies when it comes to math homework, excuses for why they can't finish, and general negative attitude changes.

When the time comes to making the jump, besides seeking a quality math tutor who is a math specialist, it is important to get to the root of the problem. Why is math getting harder? Was something missed along the way? Where bad habits started that need to be corrected? Is my high school student struggling with pre-algebra concepts but is enrolled in algebra? If your child struggles in one concept, are there other concepts where they could use math enrichment as well?

This makes Mathnasium perfect!  Our center in 4S Ranch fits the needs of anyone reading this article and saying, "This sounds like my kid." We begin with an assessment that identifies areas for growth or advancement. We create a customized learning plan that fits your child and we deliver it with one on one instruction to have the concepts make sense to the student. Once the student is ready, they are given independent time to practice their new strategy on a few problems before meeting with their math tutor and discussing their process a few minutes later.  We help with numerical fluency, number sense, elementary curriculum, algebra, geometry, pre-calculus and calculus help. 

The exchange between students and our math specialists is critical in cementing the math procedure and the student's confidence in tackling the math problem. Common Core math standards require students to communicate mathematically, and through careful questioning by Mathnasium of 4S Ranch's outstanding math tutors, students build their math vocabulary and problem solving abilities.

To read the entire article, you can visit: http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/math/math-tips-for-parents/when-to-get-a-math-tutor-for-your-child/ 

Image retrieved on 1/21/14 from: http://rack.3.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEyLzEyLzA0LzNiLzVmdW53YXlzdG9oLmFLUy5qcGcKcAl0aHVtYgk5NTB4NTM0IwplCWpwZw/906e116f/32e/5-fun-ways-to-help-your-kids-learn-math-online-141a0cd04c.jpg

Why Some Struggle with Math and Others Do Not

Think of all the exciting events that took place in 2013 and yet one of the most popular articles (#39 in its Top 100) written by Discover Magazine relates to "Why Some of Us are Better at Math Than Others."

Parents often greet me with "Why is number sense so hard for my child? We sit at the kitchen table every night and it just isn't clicking. I never had this problem as a child. I just don't get it." They are looking for solutions so their child can work more flexibly with numbers and build a foundation for future concepts. According to scientists, some are simply born with it, while others need to work at it.

Researchers from the country's greatest institutions, Duke, Johns Hopkins and Stanford, have been looking at experiences that make enhancing an individual's number sense so that success in higher math skills results.  Direct instruction, with a math tutor or teacher, has proven significant increases in math performance as concepts increase in complexity. That's awesome news and why places like Mathnasium of 4S Ranch is an outstanding option for math tutoring or math support.

Don't be afraid to start building number sense too early. One of the warm up activities we like to do with our younger students at Mathnasium of 4S Ranch is a game called Blink. It is a fast paced card game where you match cards in your hand to the target card in the center pile. You may match it by color, quantity or shape, all great concepts for math. Students "see" the quantities (just like you see a five on the cards pictured above), distinguish attributes of the shape or color, and race to get rid of their cards.

Here is the link to access the article.  A free subscription may be need to view it in its entirety: http://discovermagazine.com/2014/jan-feb/39-some-have-a-head-for-math?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews#.UtlqXLQo6M_

Mathnasium Makes Kids CRAZY About Math

• WARNING:  Your Kid Could Become Crazy About Math!  I love that sign and it is one of the first things parents mention to me as they consider Mathnasium math tutoring services for their student. They want their child to love math, they want them to understand and feel confident about their performance in math, and they want them to be open to the possibility that their career options could very well include math, so it is critical to keep their attitudes moving in the proper direction. 
  
  In a 2010 national study, Mathnasium parents were polled so that we could learn how they felt about sending their children to our learning centers. The correlation between improved math skills and improved attitude is not a coincidence. Once you are better at something, don't you enjoy it more?  That goes for earning to play an instrument, excelling at a sport, long distance running, drawing, and hundreds of other examples. 
  
  Think about this mathematically, though. If 4th grade was OK, 5th was hard, how will middle school math feel? If your pre-algebra skills aren't mastered, algebra will be a bear. If Algebra 1/2 was rough, try sustaining that level of performance after taking a few months off for geometry.  How do these concerns effect a child's attitude? Poorly. They are scared. They feel incompetent. They start to dread the class, the homework, and, of course, test days! 
  
  Mathnasium of 4S Ranch is the perfect place to beef up those skills, dig back to make the course understandable through concepts and vocabulary, achieve algebra readiness, have qualified instructors assist with math homework help, receive math test preparation, get ACT or SAT test preparation in your 92127 neighborhood, or set the ground work for the next course so your student starts the trimester strong rather than digging themselves out of a hole. 
  
  The entire survey can be see here, but as far as our claim?  Consider yourself WARNED! 
  
  
  

Mathnasium and the Common Core Standards

Common Core Math Standards are definitely the buzz the past few years and I am often asked if the Mathnasium Method supports those standards. The answer is absolutely! Strengthening a student's algebra readiness is what it is all about for our younger friends.  Developing deeper problem solving skills and a firm understanding of the concepts is how we work with high school math students.

All of the Common Core math standards are included throughout our curriculum, but we have the luxury of of working outside of a grade level based on student performance. If a child is struggling, we pull lessons from lower grade levels. If they need enrichment, we pull lessons from higher grade levels. The main objective is to make math make sense, and by working with our students on their individualized learning plan they have the greatest opportunity for success!

To learn more, please refer to Mathnasium's Guide to the Common Core attached to the right.  For Common Core details by grade level, you will want to visit CommonCore.org.  Here, they list the grade level expectations and you can see the progression from concept to concept as it pertains to operations (add, subtract, multiply and divide), algebraic thinking (often called algebra readiness), fractions, measurement, data, and geometry.  Problem solving is addressed throughout these standards so students must have the ability to work with numbers flexibly (number fact knowledge as well as number sense) as the math progresses along grade levels.

What Makes Mathnasium Different?

We know you have options for math tutoring in 92127, 4S Ranch and the Rancho Bernardo areas.  Almost every parent that walks in the door is looking for help. A solution for their child's math progress: Whether that means reteaching concepts, strengthening existing skills, building on problem solving with the new Common Core Standards, or enrichment to not only keep up with the Jones, but be a Jone. They want to know what sets us apart from other programs. Here are just some of the many reasons why Mathnasium works!

In short, your child's customized learning plan paired with instructor led lessons, facilitated by math specialists, is the key!  This individualized attention is what builds student success. Doesn't everyone want a smile like this when it comes to understanding math?

What is the Mathnasium Method?

THE MATHNASIUM METHOD™

I am always asked about what makes Mathnasium an excellent math tutoring program?  The answer is we meet students where they are most successful, and move forward from there.  

Our approach is to use sophisticated techniques to determine, with great accuracy, what a student knows and does not know. Next, we tailor-make a personalized and prescriptive learning program. Each student follows the program with the help of specially trained Mathnasium math tutors who provide instruction—and lots of warm encouragement. For proof of progress, we rely on the student's report card, independent tests, and parent testimony to measure the speed and magnitude of improvement in math skills, numerical thinking, and attitude.

EVALUATE

Comprehensive Written and Oral Evaluation Mathnasium students are given a two-part diagnostic test. The first is a written test designed to assess the student's weakness with respect to grade-level material. The second part is a series of oral questions, designed to assess the depth of the student's understanding of key math concepts and skills.

EDUCATE

Customized Program for Your Child We use the results of our assessment to develop a learning plan and provide curriculum materials that cater to the unique needs of the student. Students receive one-on-one guidance from a qualified Mathnasium math tutor when they visit the center. The curriculum focuses on primarily written materials and mental math, and includes manipulatives and other teaching tools when appropriate. Learning new concepts is balanced with practicing those that have already been learned. Kids usually "work out" once or twice a week for about an hour.

VALIDATE

Demonstrate and Measure Results We believe your child's progress (and improved attitude) will be obvious to you, the parent. But we rely on third party proofs of progress: report cards and standardized assessments, provided by your child's school.