Does your child's school do a world-class job of
teaching math?
Americans now compete for jobs, both high-paying and low-paying, against people
from around the world.
Let's take a look at how American 4th grade math students compare to 4th graders from
abroad.
Which kids do you suppose will take the future high-paying science, engineering and
hi-tech jobs?
In fifteen years, which jobs will your adult child be prepared to compete for, high-pay or
low-pay?
What does this mean? It means that
American first-graders will need to receive a first-class math education to be competitive when they enter the job market in fifteen years or so. And a first-class math education starts with a first-class arithmetic education, a basic arithmetic education. As the chart indicates, the average American child isn't receiving that education.
Basic arithmetic requires the student to:
- ...master the addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts so that
responses come immediately and automatically.
- ...put the facts to work by solving addition, subtraction, multiplication and
division problems, quickly and accurately.
If you suspect your child's school doesn't insist on that level of competence, you
should consider a tutoring program to boost his or her performance. The Math Path
Home Tutoring Program is a good candidate. It is designed to put small children
on the path to success and job satisfaction in the completely different world and workplace
they will face as adults in fifteen years.
Math Path is a simple program
designed for in-home tutoring of basic arithmetic. It takes about 20 minutes a day, 4
or 5 days a week. One-third of each session is spent on computer work, where electronic
flash cards (with a built-in timer) drill your child on arithmetic facts. Use of the timer
requires that facts be recalled automatically and effortlessly.
The child works on a particular group of 9 facts until those facts are mastered, then
moves on to the next group of 9 facts and masters those. A printout of the results of
each drill provides a solid paper trail of the child's progress. The progress also is
noted on a chart for display in a prominent place in the household.
How Math Path organizes the arithmetic facts for easier memorization
How Math Path kids learn addition facts
The other two-thirds of the time is spent doing paper and pencil work on computer-generated
worksheets. For a child just starting out, the paper and pencil work will involve the same
group of nine facts from the computer session. As the arithmetic facts are mastered, the
paper and pencil work shifts to real arithmetic problems that increase in difficulty as the
child's competence grows. The completed worksheets provide more written evidence of the
child's increasing level of competence. Thus, the child receives constant positive
feedback on his or her progress.
The Math Path menu of Addition Problems in order of increasing difficulty.
To repeat, basic arithmetic is the foundation for all the science
and math courses your child will encounter throughout academic life and into the
workplace. Most American schools do a poor job of teaching it. If you don't believe that, just
Google New Math, New New Math, Chicago Math, Fuzzy Math, Everyday Mathematics,or
any of the other programs that promote so-called critical thinking instead of
mastery of facts and how to use them.
It is the expectation of success that fuels achievement in higher mathematics (as in most
other endeavors). Mastering, really mastering, numbers, facts, and arithmetic operations
will foster an expectation of success that will help your child to persevere and succeed
in algebra and beyond. You have it in your power to make this happen.
Math Path is structured so that you don't need teaching or tutoring experience. You will
not have to bother with the concept of place value. Your child will work with place
value. He or she will swim in it. But neither of you will give thought to the
concept. You will stay in your comfort zones. If you can't work problems like the
ones to the right, you'll have to find someone in your household (or a kid across the
street) who can.
This is a very simple program. It involves only basic arithmetic without distracting
embellishments or fruitless search for understanding. Children learn the arithmetic
facts, then learn to put those facts to work. That's the way arithmetic was taught until
fifty years ago, when teaching methods changed and we began to lose our place in
the world.
1. A computer program drills your child on a specific group of facts. A timer keeps
things lively. Printed Results Reports record the events and offer ongoing proof
of continuing progress.
2. The computer generates worksheets that cover the same group of facts as the computer
drills. Paper and pencil come into play. This is more memorization work disguised as
problem-solving. It gently introduces your child to a new mathematical environment.
3. As your child approaches mastery of a set of facts (addition facts, for example) the
computer generates worksheets of arithmetic problems. Your child now has begun a journey
through formal mathematics, a journey that will continue for years. With a Math Path
start, the journey can be comfortable and rewarding.
Just as there is an optimum time to pick up reading skills, there is an optimum
time to memorize arithmetic facts. If that time is wasted on other endeavors, then the
growing and changing brain will not allocate space for the task. Memorization soon becomes
painful and arduous. So start now and let the school take care of embellishments. Math Path
is a terrific investment even if used only for mastering addition, subtraction,
multiplication and division facts.
"But," you say, "my child's
school does a first-class job of teaching math. Kids there have got to learn
their facts and be able to quickly and accurately solve problems."
Many parents who visit Math Path fall into this category. They send their children
to very good schools. The reason they purchase products such as Math Path is because
very good schools have competitive environments instead of feel-good environments. These
parents look for products that will give their children a little extra help. Math Path is
perfect for that purpose. It allows Mom to smile sweetly when other parents inquire as
to the secret of her Junior's success. Why, he's now at the top of his class in
math drills!
