MAAP 2 STEM

According to one of my sisters, as a child I had a pretty voracious appetite when it came to reading. She would check out books from the library, thinking they would keep me occupied for a certain period of time, but I usually finished them sooner than she anticipated.

One might stop and say, I thought we were supposed to be talking about math. We are, but we have to get there first. Remember one of the 3 Ps, patience? This is a process, and it takes time. 

So, let’s highlight today’s strategy that can be done prior to entering the classroom.

Read.

What should you read? It is up to you. It does not have to be math. It could be whatever interests you. Just do it a lot and often.

Why? You are building your vocabulary and comprehension for the thing that generally brings a groan to most math students:  WORD PROBLEMS. It is not a matter of if but a matter of when you will engage them. There is an expectation that students can read a mathematics problem, extract the relevant information, and work toward forming a solution. Understand that mathematics is a language that is not your first. Like all languages, it has a set of rules that forms the structure of the language and are the guides for communicating. 

Consider the following scenario. In English, if I saw only the word present, I would not know if I am talking about an adjective (current), noun (gift), or verb (to show or offer). Context matters. Once some other words are added, then I know what we are talking about.

Something similar occurs in mathematics, which uses symbols to communicate and context matters. To illustrate, 2^-1 means one thing (reciprocal) while f^-1 means something completely different (inverse function). Students sometimes use reciprocal and inverse as if they are interchangeable, but they are not. Consequently, there is the potential for breakdown in effectively communicating.

You will read to build vocabulary and exercise comprehension so that when you switch to math, it is simply a matter of transferring those skills to a different language. 

One more thing. Reading also takes focus. Guess what? Math requires the same.

What are some takeaways? 

Parents, this week I would like you to encourage your child to read. Maybe have them start with something you enjoyed. Then talk about it afterward to gauge their understanding of the material.

Students, this week I would like you to find something interesting to read. Perhaps, find a book series, start at the beginning, and go along for the ride. You will see the benefits later.

Thanks for reading and sharing. See you next week with our third strategy to consider prior to entering the mathematics classroom.