I’m not going to ramble on here about organization, studying, paying attention, etc… Rather, I will discuss what I believe to be the 2 most important factors that help students improve grades.

1) Know the Basic Skills

 The biggest problem students have with math, reading, and writing, is that students don’t have the basic skills that are needed.  Math and writing in particular, require the cumulative understanding of skills.

For example, in order for a student to understand how to multiply fractions in grade 5, he must have several skills under his belt.  He must first understand the concept of a fraction (this is usually covered in grade 3).  Also, he must know his multiplication and division tables.  If a student has these skills, multiplying fractions shouldn’t be to difficult.

Another example is writing.  In order for a student to write a narrative essay, for example, she must be able to write a proper paragraph.  In order for her to write a proper paragraph, she must be able to write a topic and supporting sentence.  In order for her to write a topic sentence, she must know how to properly write a sentence.

So, this is the first secret to improve math and writing skills.

2) Make Everything Relevant

This is especially true for boys.  It is common for students to reject learning when they realize that it has no practical application.  I’ve heard students say, and ask, “Why do I need this?”.  Okay, they may not need all of the lessons, but they do need most of them.  The key here is to show students how they can use that which they learn.  For example, in math, fractions and decimals can be applied to buying video games on sale.  Geometry can be applied to angles with regards to passing and shooting in hockey and soccer.  Number skills are used every day in the collection of sports statistics and standings.

Applying writing skills to real life is more obvious.  For example, business reports, letters of request, job applications, love letters, advertisements, etc…

I believe that these two factors are paramount with regards to improving math grades and writing skills.  Students can be organized, study, and try to pay attention, but, it’s not enough.

admin Education fractions, improve, Math, paragraph, sentences, Writing

One more week!!! 

I’m highly anticipating the summer break but I already know what’s going to happen come September.  The first few weeks of school are going to be here in no time and most kids will have empty brains!

Parents, instead of having to wait until the November parent-teacher interviews, how about looking at the problem areas now instead of in the fall? 

This 3rd term report card is the perfect ‘tool’ for preventing the ‘November Surprise’.  Okay, I know, it’s the summer time…give the kids a break…let them have fun…

I agree, to a certain extent.  Let’s take a look at this 3rd term report card.  Let’s assume your child received a C+ on one of the math strands (strands meaning Number Sense, Measurement, Geometry, etc…).  Are you just going to wait until September and hope the problem rectifies itself?  I’m not suggesting summer school, no way!  But I am suggesting some kind of help. 

Here’s my suggestion.  Again, let’s say your child did poorly in number sense in grade 5 math.  As an experienced, certified teacher, I would suggest your child spend a few hours a week reviewing grade 5 number sense, AND previewing grade 6 number sense.

Keep all that math fresh in his (or her) head.  When September comes around, he’ll have a better grip on his grade 5 math, and definately some understanding of grade 6, even before it is taught.

I look at it this way.  Imagine you just went to the doctor and he said that you gained 15 pounds and your health has been comprimised.  Okay.  What are you going to do between now and the next doctor appointment?  Hopefully you are going to  to drop those 15 pounds, right?  Or you’ll at least try to drop them.  You probably won’t just say to yourself, “I’m just going to enjoy myself and wait for the next appointment.”

I’ve made these recommendations in the past to parents and for those who have followed it, their children clearly benefited.

Good luck!

admin Uncategorized Math, report card, summer

I recently received an email from a parent of a boy who I had tutored last year.  He asked me where he could find good worksheets on the internet for his son.  I thought, “Admirable…a parent who wants to help his child.” 

But then I asked him why he wanted the worksheets.  In his next email he wrote, “I want to drill division into my son’s head until he knows it like the back of his hand.”

Okay.  Great, so he’ll find a slew of worksheets. Then what?  Who is going to teach his son how to divide? 

You can’t just get on a bike for the first time and expect to ride it!!!  You need someone to guide you!

Worksheets are fine, but, only after proper instruction.  There’s no point on doing division (or any other math skill) IF YOU”RE DOING IT WRONG!!!  What this father should have been looking for (rather than math worksheets on the web) is some quality instruction.  He could have looked for an in-home tutor (he moved far away in case you were wondering why I still didn’t tutor his son), a tutoring school, or an online tutor (Tutorgiant anyone?). 

I kindly suggested to him that he should spend his time seeking quality instruction because his son will ‘learn’ how to divide properly rather than depending on math worksheets.  In his next email, he just thanked me (I’m not sure what he chose to do).

The point here is this: In my opinion, (and hopefully you appreciate it), nothing replaces quality instruction. 

When a kid gets it, the knowledge and skills become his.  There is no need to work the poor kid to the bone hoping that he learns from just doing worksheet after worksheet.  Don’t get me wrong, students need practice, and lots of it!  But focusing on the math worksheets and not the instruction is a mistake.

Finally, if a child is not getting it the first few times, keep giving him the instruction until he is nauseated with it!! Then, and only then, will you know that he understands it (imagine receiving the same basic lesson on division 10-20 times…something has to sink in and his boredom will let you know when he has learned it).

So, my answer to this situation is…math worksheets are okay, but focus on the instruction, then worry about the worksheets.

admin Math Math, worksheet

    I have found that tutoring is quite different from teaching in the classroom. When I’m in the classroom, I have to consider teaching to a multitude of learning styles and differences. When tutoring one on one, I find myself in a different place. For example, I was tutoring a grade 8 student in math. He was having a lot of difficulty with fractions, finding volume, and algebra. I knew that I had to connect with him somehow (his confidence was definitely shot). I looked at his report card and realized that he was strong in language and history but weaker in math and science. Okay, so I understood that his dominant learning style was verbal/linguistic. So I had to come up with a way to help him with his math (especially with multiplying, dividing, and converting fractions to decimals and percents).
     I started off with fractions, specifically with dividing fractions using equivalent fractions and common denominators (that was the concept his teacher was teaching that week). Instead of starting off by showing him how to find a common denominator and divide the numerators, I wrote it down in words. Then, I had him do the same but in a procedural format. When he was done writing, I had him read it over a few times. After he was done reading, I asked him to read the steps that he wrote and do the math by following his steps.
     It took him a little while but he caught on. I used the same technique with him for his algebra and measurement. His math improved over the term and I made sure that he wrote down notes for himself in math class so that he could better understand his work.
Sometimes we have to show kids how to let the curriculum adapt to their own style of learning.

admin Math algebra, fractions, Math, tutoring, volume