Just teach my kid the math
solipsys.co.uk
Just teach my kid the math
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Re: Just teach my kid the math
#2I did A-level maths, I've programmed computers for 30 years since I was a kid.
Ive implanted algorithms to calculate solar irradiance varying by orientation, inclination and latitude.
I don't understand what my 7yo stepsons maths homework is asking him to do/learn.
It's just weird and I'm not sure he always does either, it teaches the how (weirdly) but never the why, I've started teaching him how to understand the practical uses for maths.
We play games now like "how many bricks in the wall" when we are out and about.
I struggled with maths as a child because I never saw what it was for, once you realise that it's the language of the universe things click why it is important, I'm not a mathematician nor do I need to be but I still appreciate those who are.
Re: Just teach my kid the math
#3I did A-level maths, I've programmed computers for 30 years since I was a kid. Ive implanted algorithms to calculate solar irradiance varying by orientation, inclination and latitude. I don't understand what my 7yo stepsons maths homework is asking him to do/learn. It's just weird and I'm not sure he always does either, it teaches the how (weirdly) but never the why, I've started teaching him how to understand the pr…
My (very limited) experience of more recent homework is that it makes perfect sense in the context of what the teachers are trying to teach, but no sense out of context to people who learned their maths decades ago.
If you'd care to send me a photo of an example of the homework then I can try to give you some context and understanding. My contact details can be derived from my HN profile. I might be a little slow to reply at the moment as I'm in the middle of other things and only surfacing occasionally.
Re: Just teach my kid the math
#4The original source you linked to in the article is a lot easier to read. sorry/
https://medium.com/q-e-d/just-teach-my-kid-the-expletive-mat...
Re: Just teach my kid the math
#5The original source you linked to in the article is a lot easier to read. sorry/ https://medium.com/q-e-d/just-teach-my-kid-the-expletive-mat...
That's fine - I'm hosting the copy (with permission) because medium is blocked from some locations.
Personally, I hate medium's default settings - I just feel like my face is being pushed through mush. But that's a personal thing, and I've certainly lost that battle.
Re: Just teach my kid the math
#6The original source you linked to in the article is a lot easier to read. sorry/ https://medium.com/q-e-d/just-teach-my-kid-the-expletive-mat...
That's fine - I'm hosting the copy (with permission) because medium is blocked from some locations. Personally, I hate medium's default settings - I just feel like my face is being pushed through mush. But that's a personal thing, and I've certainly lost that battle.
Thank you for that - Medium is blocked in Malaysia, for example, which I can bypass by using Google DNS on WiFi, but not on 4G...
Re: Just teach my kid the math
#7I did A-level maths, I've programmed computers for 30 years since I was a kid. Ive implanted algorithms to calculate solar irradiance varying by orientation, inclination and latitude. I don't understand what my 7yo stepsons maths homework is asking him to do/learn. It's just weird and I'm not sure he always does either, it teaches the how (weirdly) but never the why, I've started teaching him how to understand the pr…
Understanding why has always been my primary way to learn things. Do you have any suggestions for books or courses I could dig into to better understand this approach.
My oldest who is 8 is quite good at math and on the math team and his school does do a lot to teach them but I want to help him how to think.
In almost every other field I can but I am not good enough at math to understand which "games" to play.
Re: Just teach my kid the math
#8I did A-level maths, I've programmed computers for 30 years since I was a kid. Ive implanted algorithms to calculate solar irradiance varying by orientation, inclination and latitude. I don't understand what my 7yo stepsons maths homework is asking him to do/learn. It's just weird and I'm not sure he always does either, it teaches the how (weirdly) but never the why, I've started teaching him how to understand the pr…
My (very limited) experience of more recent homework is that it makes perfect sense in the context of what the teachers are trying to teach, but no sense out of context to people who learned their maths decades ago. If you'd care to send me a photo of an example of the homework then I can try to give you some context and understanding. My contact details can be derived from my HN profile. I might be a little slow to…
... makes perfect sense in the context of what the teachers are trying to teach ...
What's the point with homework then?
School takes the best part of a childs day, and when they don't make it through, the parents can finish with a tired child.
Re: Just teach my kid the math
#9I did A-level maths, I've programmed computers for 30 years since I was a kid. Ive implanted algorithms to calculate solar irradiance varying by orientation, inclination and latitude. I don't understand what my 7yo stepsons maths homework is asking him to do/learn. It's just weird and I'm not sure he always does either, it teaches the how (weirdly) but never the why, I've started teaching him how to understand the pr…
Understanding why has always been my primary way to learn things. Do you have any suggestions for books or courses I could dig into to better understand this approach. My oldest who is 8 is quite good at math and on the math team and his school does do a lot to teach them but I want to help him how to think. In almost every other field I can but I am not good enough at math to understand which "games" to play.
Everyone has a balance of these things, but in my experience there are two extrema to approaching maths. Some people are happy to be solving the puzzles, and simply enjoy the thrill of the chase. Others insist on knowing why they should be learning this, and what it's good for.
Both are valid, but if there is A and B and you're naturally good at A, the natural tendency is to ignore or avoid B. But that then limits your box of tricks, and makes you one-dimensional. By all means take advantage of what you're good at, but work hard on the other aspects to enrich your abilities. Also, they cross-fertilise, so you get more than you might expect.
With regards your oldest, it's worth trying a bunch of stuff to see if you can work out what they prefer. Then do both, but be prepared for having to work harder on one aspect than the other. Your oldest might like puzzles for their own sake, or might insist on knowing what it's for. Explore both. Find maths in strange places, work through puzzles just for their own sake.
The critical key is to be doing stuff all the time.
Caveat: I don't have children, I have no formal training, but I do a lot of outreach, enrichment, and enhancement.
Re: Just teach my kid the math
#10I did A-level maths, I've programmed computers for 30 years since I was a kid. Ive implanted algorithms to calculate solar irradiance varying by orientation, inclination and latitude. I don't understand what my 7yo stepsons maths homework is asking him to do/learn. It's just weird and I'm not sure he always does either, it teaches the how (weirdly) but never the why, I've started teaching him how to understand the pr…
I think the key thing for making math worth knowing for a kid is making him realize that world is full of numbers.
One way I intend to do that is providing kids with a lot of measuring devices as toys. Rulers, calipers, pirometers, timers, you name it. If it can give you number for something real then it's a good toy.