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Get kids excited about math skills by showing them cool jobs that use it everyday

A common question that we’ve all heard at some point in our schooling, whether in elementary school, high school, or beyond, is “why do I need to know this?” Sometimes, as a teacher or parent, it may be hard to think of an answer with specific examples. Here are some ideas of real-life applications to help your child see how math can be useful in the real world.

kids excited about math skills

Math skills used in iconic architecture

Some of the largest and most incredible examples of math in the real world are well-known monuments and buildings around the world. For example, the Taj Mahal has very impressive and perfect symmetry. Meanwhile, the Great Pyramid of Giza has some really cool hidden math concepts in it. In the measurements of the king’s chamber pyramids you can clearly see the Pythagorean Triangle, and the perimeter of the pyramid divided by its height is equal to Pi (3.14159…). By teaching your child about an iconic piece of architecture like these ones, you can have both a history lesson and a math lesson at the same time. You can also point out how the architects and construction workers who design and build these utilize their math skills in a very practical way.

Find math in nature with the Fibonacci Sequence and golden ratio

Another amazing example of math can be found right in your backyard and everywhere in nature. For example, the Fibonacci Sequence (1,2,3,5,8…) can be found all throughout botany, from sunflower seeds to pinecones and flower petals. These are also good examples of the golden ratio, as these two concepts are closely related. Even looking at symmetry in the human body can be intriguing, and can be combined into a science lesson for aspiring physiotherapists, chiropractors, doctors, and disciplines of anatomy. If you are looking for a way to tie science and math together, you can look up more examples of math in nature and go for a hike to see how many things you can find that use the golden ratio and Fibonacci sequence.

Math skills in everyday tasks

Teaching math through everyday tasks is also a great idea, because no matter what your child’s math level is, there is sure to be something they are going to need math skills for eventually. For simple practice of addition and subtraction, have your child practice making purchases and learning to count money. You can also practice adding and subtracting fractions by baking and having your child use different combinations of measuring cups. For a more advanced learner, using the quadratic equation to figure out where a ball will land once thrown. It can help make the concept seem less abstract.

You can tie these examples into a lesson on an appropriate topic, or just point them out as you see them in real life. And of course, if you ever hear one of those questions escape your child’s lips, “why do I need to know this?” or “who actually uses this in real life?”, now you will be able to give them some specific examples. Enjoy!

Create your own math materials at home to help your child see how math works visually

Math materials at home to help your child

Sometimes no matter how hard you try, a math concept will not ‘click’ with your child by using traditional teaching methods and math materials. It could be because they are a visual or kinesthetic learner. If they are, they may need to see and play around with other manipulatives before they get it. Or, your child might just be bored of doing a bunch of worksheets and need something new to regain interest. Either way, you can easily create some math manipulatives at home that mimic some of the materials you may find in your child’s classroom, but don’t cost a fortune.

Keep things colourful with math materials

The first thing to remember when making math manipulatives is to include different colours. Visual learners in particular will benefit from this, as bright colours will not only be visually stimulating to get them engaged, but can help them learn math concepts through colour association. For example, if you teach them to associate one colour with one operation, say blue for addition, that might resonate with them more than the simple subtraction symbol.

Adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing with bottle caps

One idea to ease yourself into making math manipulatives is to write a bunch of numbers on bottle caps for practice with addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. You can have a pile of these numbered bottle caps, and you or your child can select a few to form an equation.

This is an easy way to use math materials to get your child practicing solving equations, while switching it up from a boring old worksheet. One way to incorporate colour here is to make the numbers one of four different colours, so that each colour represents an operation. You can stick to one operation for each equation, say addition, or if your child is ready to learn order of operations you can mix them all together.

Another use for bottle caps: make a multiplication table

Another math manipulative you can make at home is a multiplication table out of bottle caps. This will require quite a few bottle caps: 100 if you want to do a full 10×10 table. But if you collect bottle caps easily in your house this is the perfect way to use them.

Start by numbering 1-10 on two strips of paper and place them across the top and left sides of a square of cardboard or any other hard material. Then, fill in each row with 10 bottle caps. Your child can put beads or beans in the caps to visually see how much 6×4 or 8×2 equals. See this link for a visual example (though the writing is in Italian).

Put a creative spin on ordinary integer tiles by making your own

If your child is learning to work with integers, they might have had the opportunity to work with integer tiles at school. When learning to add and subtract with integers, integer tiles can be very useful to help kids see what is happening visually.

Instead of trying to get your hands on expensive math tiles, make some with your child out of paper. Use fun colours or pictures to make them more visually appealing. For example, flowers could be positives and fish could be negatives. Or you could even just colour in positive tiles with red markers and negatives with blue markers. This can turn into a fun craft and an easy way to learn integers using simple math materials at home.

These are just a few examples, but hopefully this gives you an idea of how easy it is to make math materials right at home! Don’t be afraid to get creative! Try to recreate manipulatives you see in your child’s classroom using simple materials from around your house.

Tips to prevent germs from spreading at school

Keeping kids healthy at school is not always easy. Last week’s blog post talked about why kids are more likely to catch cold and flu viruses at school, but the good news is that there are ways to stay healthy. Here are some tips that you can follow for keeping kids healthy right from the start of the school year that help prevent germs from spreading in the first place.

Prevent germs from spreading at school

How can you help your child prevent germs from spreading at school?

A study was done to find out what the most germy spots are around schools. The lunch room tables, computer mouses and drinking fountains were some of the most infested places. Different kids are touching these surfaces throughout the day and spreading germs to each other. Getting sick can’t always be avoided, but the spread of germs can be reduced by following some general practices. It is good to educate your child at home so they can continue to use the same practices when they are at school.

1. Keep your kids hydrated, rested and full of vitamins

Drinking water is one way to keep your kids bodies equipped to fight off germs. Taking daily vitamins that are full of vitamin C are also ways to help boost your family’s immune system. Making sure to get plenty of rest also keeps your body strong to stand against illnesses. By keeping yourself and your family members healthy your kids will be more likely to avoid catching whatever bugs are going around the school. This is also a good step toward preventing the cold and flu viruses from taking over your home.

2. Wash hands often at home and at school

It might seem like a no brainer to tell kids to wash their hands throughout the day, but this is something kids tend to forget to do. Washing hands is not just important after using the washroom but also after coughing or blowing your nose and before eating. Kids especially eat a lot of finger foods, so it should always be a requirement to wash hands before eating a snack or a meal. Reminding your kids to wash their hands will help keep them and other kids from getting sick at school. This article shows why handwashing is so effective at keeping people healthy.

3. Avoid sharing food or drinks with others

Friends sometimes like to share food and drinks with each other. They may think it is harmless, but this is one way that is bound to spread germs to other students around the school. If your child enjoys sharing snacks with friends they can pack extra snacks or drinks to pass around instead of sharing the same food or drink item.

4. Promote health education at school

It is good to inform your children about how to reduce germs from spreading. Another way of keeping kids healthy at school is to have health education at the school. Sharing health tips with all of the students in the school will help get the whole school involved in preventing germs and sickness from spreading. Even if there is not a separate health class every classroom teacher can spend some time covering basic information with their classes.

These tips can’t guarantee that your kids will never get sick when they go back to school. However, by following these simple steps and reminders it will at least help to reduce germs from spreading and limit the numbers of students who have to stay home from school due to illness.

How do kids catch cold and flu viruses at school?

Does it seem like as soon as kids return to school they start coming home sick? There are a variety of factors that lead to kids catching colds or viruses that take them out of school for days. Here are some of the reasons why kids catch cold and flu viruses at school.

kids catch cold and flu viruses at school

Why do kids tend to get sick when school starts?

There are a number of reasons why kids come home with runny noses and fevers once they return to school in the fall. Here are three of the main reasons why the start of the school year coincides with the start of cold and flu season.

1. Being around lots of new kids with new germs

One of the culprits to the spread of sickness is kids being around a lot of new people who they haven’t been around before. All the kids coming back to school bring all sorts of germs with them. Some kids have travelled to different countries during the summer where they may have picked up some foreign germs as well. Once all these kids come together, the school building becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses. Kids all touch the same door handles, sink faucets and paper towel dispensers. They also share crayons, play games with the same toys and little kids might still walk together holding hands. These are all avenues that enable germs to spread throughout the school.

2. Do changes in weather increase the chances of getting sick?

Some people believe that going outside when it’s cold out can lead to getting sick. Cold weather alone isn’t proven to cause sickness. It may however, weaken the immune system and make kids more susceptible to catch cold and flu viruses at school. Another factor that may cause people to get sick when the weather gets colder is that more people congregate indoors where it is easier to spread germs to one another. Regardless of whether or not the weather makes you sick it is still a good idea to keep your kids dressed with adequate layers to keep them warm when they go outside in cool weather.

3. Kids catch cold and flu viruses at school in the fall and winter

The changes in weather could be a major breeding ground for cold and flu viruses. Some research has indicated that cold and flu viruses are more easily transmitted in cooler, less humid weather. If viruses are hardier during these seasons then they can survive for a longer period of time and infect more people.

For kids to be able to focus at school they have to be feeling good. If your kids catch cold or flu viruses at school it is important that they rest at home before returning to school. Being at school when not feeling well doesn’t do much good for the sick child and there is a risk of spreading more germs to other students. Follow the school nurses orders and keep your sick child home for the recommended number of days before returning them to school.

Keep students learning during B.C. teachers strike

Keep students learning during B.C. teachers strike

Even though the B.C. teachers strike has delayed the start of school there are still ways students can continue learning in the meantime. With summer time coming to a close students might even be excited to get back into their school routine. Here are some ways to keep students learning during the B.C. teachers strike.

1. Set aside learning time at home

Since kids have been preparing to go back to school for the past few weeks, now is a good time to encourage some independent learning at home. Set up a station either at the dining room table or at your child’s desk for them to work on some educational activities. Math workbooks provide prepared pages for your child to work on, and an older child or parent can review their work and help make corrections. Students can also spend time doing silent reading and writing in their journal. Local homeschooling stores are great sources for finding workbooks for all grade levels.

2. Government funding during the B.C. teachers strike for child care options

The B.C. government has been providing parents with $40 a day for each child under the age of 13. This 40 dollars can be used for childcare or for educational activities that your family chooses. One great way to use the government funding is to arrange child care groups where kids can gather together to play and also do some group educational activities. Some neighbourhood babysitters may be willing to do group child care for neighbourhood kids. This will help prepare young children to re-enter the school setting once the strike is over.

3. Use $40 a day for private tutoring or group tutoring

Another way to use the government funding during the teachers strike is to use it for tutoring services. You can arrange for your child to have private tutoring sessions with a certified teacher tutor. You could also sign up for group tutoring with other students who are at your child’s same grade level. This will keep students learning and prepare them to get back into their daily school routine.

Regardless of how long the teachers strike continues it is always beneficial to encourage your child to do educational activities outside of school. Take advantage of the extra time you have with your children this summer but be sure to keep promoting learning in your daily routine. Once school is back in session your kids will be ready to go!

Can reading practice and doing homework help students learn?

Can reading practice and doing homework help students learn?

When school is back in session this also usually means that students are required to do homework. Kids are required to read a certain amount of minutes every day, practice their math skills, study foreign languages or play a musical instrument. This seems like a lot to ask of students, especially young children. There are some good reasons behind why students are required to spend time practicing what they are learning. One major reason is that spending time doing a skill can actually change a student’s brain.

Reading experience causes changes in the brain

Some research shows that the act of reading changes our brain. An article by Annie Murphy Paul shows how the brain changes based on the amount of time we spend reading. Research shows that there tends to be less grey matter in the brain in students who are dealing with dyslexia. The article points out how this could be because people who struggle with reading because of dyslexia tend to not spend as much time reading.

Reading practice could lead to improvements in brain development

Some people used to think that the differences in the brain were hard wired or inherited and this was what caused dyslexia. Actually the research suggests that it could be that the lack of time spent reading that causes the differences in the brain. In Annie Murphy Paul’s article it points out that when dyslexic students spent more time with a tutor to practice reading their brains also showed more grey matter just like the students who did not have dyslexia.

Does doing homework help students learn and does it affect their brain development?

This leads us to consider what other parts of the brain are developing as we practice other skills. A student who struggles in math and decides to never do their math homework might be missing out on brain development. If the brain can gain grey matter just by spending the time doing math homework, then it could be benefitting the student even if they don’t realize it.

Could spending time practicing an instrument change the brain?

Some students take music lessons that require daily practice. Among those students it would be interesting to see if the students who spend more time practicing their instrument have more development of grey matter in their brain. We’ve all heard the term “practice makes perfect” and although it’s hard to see what’s actually going on inside of the brain practice could be changing the composition of our brains.

This research should motivate students to spend the recommended time doing their homework, reading books and practicing new skills. Parents can also help explain the importance of doing homework to their children. Especially if your child has difficulties reading, they can be encouraged that the time spent practicing reading has been proven to help their brains develop and even help them overcome their dyslexia to some degree. Here are some other reasons why homework is beneficial for student learning.