Math Language

As you may already know, and by proof of this blog, my skills in writing in the English language are poor. But my ability to solve problems with the mathematic language is quite exceptional. Mathematics has always come easy to me and it may have been the key to my confidence and success.

As I was tutoring today, I realized how children do not make the connection between the skills they learn in math class with the real world. This is no different from the other students I have tutored the past eight or so years. For example, you can ask a child how to divide 80 by 4 and they may take their time (and may have to write it out), but if you ask how to split $80 between 4 people, they will immediately say give each person $20. Putting math problems in terms of money seems to help solve them quicker. What does this say about how significant money is in today's life? 

But back to the problem at hand, students seem to think everything they learn in school stay in school especially in the younger children. I feel that the integration of real world applications have to implemented as soon as possible and with technology, that can happen. Instead of just the use of word problems, students can be shown visually through the LED screens. Students can visual what multiple/division looks like in larger quantities with real world applications like money (without the hassle of printing fake money). Students have to learn mathematics can be seen as a language to describe and solve problems.

Of course this doesn't only apply to mathematics, more students need to interconnect all the subjects they learn in their classes (science, history, etc) with their every day lives. The better it is taught, the more the students will learn in and out of the classroom. I wish it didn't take as long as it did to figure the significance of history but it only took one influential teacher to change that.