EXCELLING IN MATH:

5 THINGS EVERY PARENT SHOULD KNOW Math Educator Shares Tips to Help Your Kids Succeed in Math Test scores show that school systems across the country are not supporting our children’s educational needs when it comes to developing their math skills. And, although there may not be a one-size fits all solution, families can make a difference in what students learn in school and in math. Senior math advisor for Texas Instruments, Former President of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and math teacher Gail Burrill shares tips for what parents should know about helping their students succeed.
1. Math is important regardless of what kids want to be in life. Setting a good foundation when children are younger allows them to succeed in math through their high school years and beyond. Sixty percent of all new jobs in the early twenty-first century will require skills currently possessed by only 20 percent of the workforce.
2. Support for math education starts at home. Whether or not you enjoy math yourself, kids need encouragement to learn that hard work and persistence is important for success.
3. Provide resources when math gets tough. Math can sometimes be tough for even the best students, so make sure your student has the right tools for success. For example, research shows that students do better in math when they use a graphing calculator at home and in class.
4. Find ways to show them that math is important to everyone’s lives and interests. Showing students how to relate math to the real world will help them to understand why it’s important.
5. Ensure that they take four years of high-quality math in high school. All students should be enrolled in challenging, high-quality math courses.
INTERVIEW WITH: Gail Burrill, former president of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, is currently Mathematics Specialist in the Division of Science and Mathematics Education at Michigan State University. Previously Gail was a secondary teacher and department chair in suburban Milwaukee, Wisconsin for over 25 years and served as Director of the Mathematical Sciences Education Board. As an instructor for Teachers Teaching with Technology, she does workshops around the country on using technology in the classroom. She has spoken nationally and internationally on issues in teaching and learning mathematics.
This interview is courtesy of Texas Instruments.