MAAP 2 STEM

Last week, we completed a series on strategies that can be implemented within the mathematics classroom. This week, we change gears and offer some approaches for outside the classroom.

To become a solid mathematics student, I encouraged my students to do math every day. To accomplish that, I would recommend setting a reasonable goal. Maybe start with fifteen to twenty minutes. Experiment to find a routine that works best for you. This is really important especially for students who may feel that math does not easily come to them.

One reason to review so regularly is it keeps the information fresh in your mind. On numerous occasions, I have discussed with students how often they study math. A common theme is that many will work on math in one big session and then let a few days go by before the next big session takes place. And this process is repeated. 

That may work for some. However, think about this. During your second big session, how much time did you spend trying to recall information from the first? In your third big session, how much time did you spend trying to recall information from the first and second? You can see where this is going.

But let’s slow this down before we get overwhelmed. Today, we provide the first tip that students can do outside the mathematics classroom.

Review Notes ASAP.

If possible, immediately after class is a great time to review your notes. If not, later in the day. The main takeaway is to try to review your notes the same day. 

Why? Recall, while discussing note taking, one of the suggestions made was do not write everything down. The goal for note taking, in the classroom, is to capture the more important details. You refine and enhance those notes when reviewing, and here are some ways that might look.

1. When you review, fill in the details. Some students need or like to see every step. Filling in the finer details might involve showing the step or steps that your instructor may have skipped in class. Now, you can better see the logical flow of the solution, which hopefully leads to better understanding of the material.
2. If you have all the details but something is still not quite making sense, write down a question or questions so that you can either ask your instructor in class or during office hours. Remember, ask your questions. Do not let them go unanswered. Mathematics builds on previous concepts.
3. Finally, when you review your notes, you can make them more organized by doing things like color-coding, creating flashcards, improving graphs/charts by making sure they are labeled properly, rewriting sections that may have been hastily done in class. The level of organization is up to you, but you will be the primary beneficiary in the long run.

Ultimately, we are working on improving our memory. It is challenging to remember math facts that are not frequently used. By visiting the material regularly, instructors hope that students can engage the content at a deeper level. Frequent repetition is key to changing short-term memory into long-term memory.

Thanks for reading and sharing. Until next week, take care.