As school year 2015 – 2016 gains momentum, we hope that your family is able to pause for a moment and reflect on academic goals for the rest of the fall semester. This is an ideal time to sit and talk with your mathlete(s) about how they’re feeling about school and math so far and what they’d like to accomplish before the semester ends. Mathnasium is always here to help, and we’d like to offer these points as guidelines for that important conversation:
• Encourage honesty and listen! Whether kids are ahead of the curve or falling behind, it can be difficult for them to admit their true feelings to a parent or guardian. Set the tone for openness, be attentive, and let them know that you’re there cheering them on. Promote a balanced outlook by asking them to contemplate pros and cons about math and math class.
• Set achievable goals and come up with a concrete plan to reach them. Keep your child on track and encourage daily accountability by setting a designated study time and calendaring important dates and assignments. Emphasize that diligent work over time can drive amazing results—we’ve seen this happen time and time again at Mathnasium! Stop by the centre for a chat—we’re happy to serve as a community resource for all things math.
• Remind mathletes of the big picture so they recognize the long-term benefits of strong math foundations. Entering the workforce with solid math skills and number sense can make all the difference in terms of future earning power and professional growth. This article from Forbes outlines the best jobs for 2015—many of which are in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields.
Wishing you a happy and productive fall—we look forward to seeing you soon!
P.S. Speaking of looking back and reflecting, October marks the 13th anniversary of our first-ever learning centre, Mathnasium of Westwood in Los Angeles. Click here for Mathnasium Method creator Larry Martinek’s reflections on this very special day in Mathnasium history!
Also, are you ready for Halloween? We’re celebrating Halloween during the whole month of October with our fun Trick or Treat activity! Solve these five math problems using mental math “tricks,” tell us how you solved them, and bring them into the centre for a treat.