tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1140407830653632472024-03-13T20:36:25.360-07:00You CAN Do Math!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-114040783065363247.post-10177111465258884232009-12-25T08:47:00.000-08:002009-12-25T13:51:17.107-08:00A New Year A New Start<strong>It's that time of year again! Time to begin a new year and a new school semester. </strong><br /><br />This semester, begin with success-building strategies that will enable you or your student to succeed in math. <br /><br /><strong> 1. Be consistent in doing homework. </strong> <br />Homework allows for concepts learned in class to be solidified. Complete all the assigned homework and check for correctness. Even though teachers assign even numbered problems for homework, there are most often similar odd-numbered problems that have answers in the back of the text that allow you to see if you are on track. Meet with your teacher or a tutor for extra explanations.<br /><br /><strong> 2. Don't wait to get help. </strong> <br />If you begin to fall behind in understanding the concepts, get help right away rather than right before a test or an exam! The problem will only compound if you wait. Sometimes all it takes is one extra meeting with your teacher or a tutor to get you back on track. If you find you need long term help, it will be much easier to begin right away, so you aren't playing catch-up. <br /><br /><strong> 3. You really do need to study for a math test. </strong> <br /> It is vital that you give yourself a reality check when it comes time for a test. Make and take practice tests, rework examples and problems with correct answers so you can check your work. <br />Study terms, definitions, and properties so you know them without having to look them up. This will make problem solving easier. <br /><br /><strong> 4. Check your fundamentals. </strong><br /> Do you find yourself struggling to remember multiplication facts or operations with fractions or decimals? Take time to strengthen these areas so they don't slow you down when you tackle more advanced problems. <br /><br /><br /><strong> 5. Contact You CAN Do Math! for more personalized and specific assistance in math from the elementary level through Calculus.</strong><br />We offer one-on-one and small group tutoring, enrichment classes, and specific homework help. <br /><br />Teletutoring is also available ! Contact us for rates at <br /><strong>youcandomath@live.com</strong><br /><br /><strong>6. Don't give up-- You CAN Do Math! </strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-114040783065363247.post-24614260076543921032009-08-31T08:03:00.000-07:002009-08-31T08:17:47.903-07:00You CAN Do Math! is on the air!We are live and on the air at Thrive Connect Radio ! <br /><br />Join us once a month on Thrive Talk Radio from thriveinbalance.com<br />with study tips, expert advice, book and product reviews, and <br />intriguing guests to help you and your child thrive in learning and <br />personal development. <br /><br />The show airs the last Monday of every month at 11:00 am CST. <br />Be sure to listen and tell your friends!<br /><br />Just go to www.thriveinbalance.com and click on the Thrive Connect <br />Radio tab. You CAN tune in!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-114040783065363247.post-3119037267740427012009-08-31T07:50:00.000-07:002009-08-31T08:13:43.992-07:00Back to School !Now that school has officially begun for most students, thoughts turn to homework and tests. In the first part of the school year, setting time aside for homework comes natrually. But as the first few weeks fly by and extra-curricular activities set in, homework becomes less and less of a priority. Do not let this happen in your household! Make it the mainstay of your regular after-school and evening routine and it will become a habit that will benefit your student greatly both now and in the future. <br /><br />Some helpful tips: <br /><br /> Keep the television off until all homework is completed.<br /><br /> Create a homework "station" that is always accessible, with <br /> pencils,pens, paper, flashcards, etc. handy. (Snacks are a <br /> great idea too to have available at your students fingertips-<br /> the less distractions the better!) <br /><br /> Limit computer use to "homework related only" until all work is <br /> complete. <br /><br />You, as a parent, are your child's role model. Encourage them to give good effort <br />in all their studies. If your student sees how important their school work is to <br />you, it will become important to them too. <br /><br />Don't forget to reward your child's hard work on the weekends!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-114040783065363247.post-64923809571472975942009-05-14T10:59:00.000-07:002009-05-14T11:23:54.901-07:00Helpful Tips to Study for MathWhen it comes to studying for math, most students begin by looking over their homework. This is a great beginning to preparing for a test, but it is not enough! The majority of people that struggle in math have their biggest difficulties when it comes to testing. <br /><br />I always suggest to my students to prepare themselves for a test by taking a test! <br /><br />Normally when a math student has trouble working a problem, they refer back to the lesson or other similar problems in the homework. Of course during a test this is not possible. So to prepare for a test I recommend that you do not prepare this way! <br /><br />My suggestion is this:<br /><br />1. Select problems from sections that you will be tested on and that you have correct answers for. <br /><br />2. Write them out on paper (without the answers!) <br /><br />3. Put away all reference materials you normally use. <br /><br />4. Clear a work space in a quiet area where you can work undisturbed. <br /><br />5. Pretend you are taking the test for real and work all the problems on your own--just as you would in an actual test. <br /><br />6. Use the answers to the problems to grade your own test and caluclate your score.<br /><br />7. Circle any problems you missed.<br /><br />8. Go back to the lessons and homework and re-learn the concepts. <br /><br />9. Do some practice problems.<br /><br />10. Make and give yourself another test. <br /><br />11. Repeat this until you have mastered the material. <br /><br /><br />p.s. This is not as time consuming as summer school!!!!!!<br /><br /><br />Remember, you CAN do math!!!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-114040783065363247.post-85178628187963056862009-02-20T21:44:00.001-08:002009-02-20T21:44:48.846-08:00You CAN Do Math!Math. The mere mention of the word conjures up nightmarish images and memories of complex equations, indecipherable formulas, horrific word problems, or perhaps the mother of all math nightmares… long division! This poses the question of why so many people loathe and fear math. How can it be that something so important, valuable, and useful (yes, useful!) causes so much upset stomach? The answer takes as many different forms as there are people, but the underlying principle is still the same: somewhere along the mathematical journey, something didn’t add up (pun intended). Then that idea was built upon with more difficult concepts. This layering of ideas continued, but the foundation was shaky. At some point, the structure collapsed, or could not be completed. But this does not mean that someone is incapable of learning math. It simply means that a certain concept or concepts were not grasped as they should have been, regardless of the cause. Often, returning to those concepts and mastering them unlocks the rest of the mathematical puzzle and begins to lay a solid foundation upon which to build.<br />As recently as one hundred years ago, students were required to memorize mathematical facts and perform difficult computations in their heads. Students today do the same sort of memorization without realizing it. They memorize phone number after phone number, locker combinations, web addresses, and countless lyrics to songs. Adults do this same type of memorization also. Memorization is not the problem! Focusing it in the right direction is! Learning math can be likened to weight-lifting: it takes concentrated effort and repetition to notice positive results. Someone who wants to build muscles cannot do so if they go to a gym once or twice a week, look at the weights, maybe lift one or two and then give up and say, “ It’s too hard! I can’t do it!” Math is the same. It takes consistent, concentrated effort on a daily basis (lots of practice!) to achieve positive results. Only this time, the muscles you are building are in your brain. (Your biceps too if your book is heavy!) So if you are struggling with math, or know someone who is, encourage them to keep practicing. Meet with their math teacher (or your own), or a knowledgeable tutor who can help identify weak spots so they can be strengthened. Once you recognize them, you most surely will find there are strengths present as well. Those will be the start of a solid foundation. And don’t think that you have to be young to learn math! Many adults who go back to school find that they can more readily comprehend mathematical concepts they struggled with in their youth.<br />So the next time you hear the word “math”, don’t roll your eyes and don’t stress. Take a deep breath, and remember that math is something that you CAN do!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-114040783065363247.post-25478669776221909072009-01-06T19:20:00.000-08:002009-01-06T19:21:14.890-08:00The Order of OperationsSomething cool coming very soon!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-114040783065363247.post-80911981111540655802008-02-13T16:33:00.000-08:002008-02-13T16:57:28.753-08:00Dividing Fractions HintDividing fractions is easy when you remember this little rhyme:<br /><br /><em>If there are fractions you want to divide,</em><br /><em>Flip the second guy and then multiply!</em><br /><em></em><br />Of course, don't forget to cancel and/or reduce after you flip!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0