Fun and Easy Mathematics For Better Learning
Whoever said Mathematics is hard and boring? Today, the trend in learning especially in Mathematics is to do it the fun and easy way. Gone are the days when children are too bored and uninterested with math because they have to memorize a lot of tables and formulas. Mathematics learning nowadays is geared towards gaining the concepts and theories in a fun and easy way.
If you do not believe this then take a look at NASA’s program to help students have fun with Math. Since 1996, NASA has created math lessons that are entertaining and fun for elementary school children. Even they have noticed that it is easier to show children how math, science and engineering interconnect and how these studies are important if kids learn them the fun way. Even child psychologists and parenting experts have already acknowledged the concept of fun and easy learning based on studies and results conducted the past years.
How can kids have fun and easy Mathematics learning? There are now a lot of tools and materials that have come out promoting fun and easy math learning. However, all these tools and materials can be classified into the four thinking standards of Mathematics.
Problem Solving. Mathematics is problem solving. Have you noticed that in every Math concept or learning area there is always the Given, the Unknown, the Procedure and the Result? Let us take a simple addition equation such as 1 + 2. The GIVEN here is 1 and 2, the UNKNOWN is the result of adding two numbers, the PROCEDURE is addition and the Result is 3. Through problem solving children are taught how to find solutions to problems as well as the awareness that there might be other solutions to a problem. Solving problems provide children with the chance to explore think logically and reason out before settling on a solution. For children to enjoy solving problems, you should be able to discuss a problem with them, ask them for possible solutions and how they came up with their solutions. Children will surely have fun solving problems through Math games that will help them recognize numbers, concept of sets or groups, measurements, understand fractions and learning how to compute.
Reasoning. Part and parcel of problem solving is reasoning. Before coming up with a solution, children should be taught to look at all possibilities and to provide how a solution was derived. One way to make reasoning fun and easy for kids is to ask them a question wherein there is two or more possible answers, then ask them why they came up with the same answers but using different methods.
Communications. Mathematics is a form of expression. Isn’t it that we sometimes call an equation, a mathematical expression? This is because we usually create a series or combinations of mathematical symbols to produce specific results in order to solve a defined problem. Children should be encouraged to communicate in any means possible so that they will learn how to express themselves. In Math, they can use numbers to express themselves and they will be able to have fun by using ordinary objects (pencils, paper, etc.) or their fingers in expressing themselves.
Connections. Mathematics may be an exact science and can stand on its own but it is one study that has a lot of relationships. Mathematics is everywhere from the time you wake up in the morning to the time you get to bed. How is this so? From the time you wake up you look at the numbers of your clock to determine what time it is. Based alone on time (numbers) you go through your daily routine. You look at the date and you see numbers, you take your medicine and you see measurements, you go to the gym and, again, you look at the numbers. Children could easily learn to make connections simply by telling them to drink half of their glass of milk or getting on the weighing scale. Unknowingly just going through their daily routine they do not realize how easy and how much Math they have been learning.
Mathematics has a lot of content which through fun and easy activities will help kids learn eagerly without knowing it.
