| If you were to ask most adults which subject they | | | | processing all those inputs from the five senses, and |
| liked the least when they were at school, it's a fair | | | | making sense of the world at large. |
| bet that the majority would say, "math." | | | | And yet most parents don't take advantage of this |
| So why is it that so many people have this math | | | | unique period in their child's life. |
| phobia - what is it about numbers that makes | | | | It is our experience, in fact, that parents have no |
| people's brains go numb and sends shivers down their | | | | clue just how much their babies are taking in - until |
| spines? | | | | it's too late. |
| In our view, it can all be traced back to the way that | | | | For example, I had friends whose three-year old |
| mathematics is taught, and there are a few issues. | | | | daughter used the F word in front of grandma, much |
| Firstly, the subject is simply not taught in a very | | | | to grandma's complete shock and horror - all because |
| engaging way, and the ton of super-dry formulas | | | | the girl heard her parents use the word (and other |
| that you are forced to memorise is just part of the | | | | equally unsavoury ones) all the time, and even though |
| problem. | | | | she couldn't talk herself at the time, it sank in and |
| Now, you could argue that since traditional education | | | | was, of course, regurgitated at the most |
| methods focus primarily on left-brain activities, which | | | | inappropriate and embarrassing moment possible. |
| is the logical, rational half of the brain, and math is | | | | So, what's the solution, then? |
| clearly more to do with logic and rationality than | | | | Well, first off, find ways to make math relevant - no |
| anything else, it should all sink in pretty easily. | | | | more arcane problems about bath tubs filling up and |
| But that just goes to show how badly it is being | | | | other such nonsense. Daily life is full of opportunities |
| taught. | | | | to make use of math skills, and do we really want |
| Secondly, maths is rarely taught in a manner that | | | | our children to be so dependent on their calculators |
| highlights its relevance to your everyday life, | | | | that they can't even add two small numbers |
| because, let's face it, whether you like it or not, | | | | together in their heads? |
| numbers are hard to avoid on a day-to-day basis. | | | | (By the way, the more active you keep your brain, |
| Even taking our reliance on calculators, computers | | | | the healthier you'll be and the less likely to suffer |
| and spreadsheets into account, some basic mental | | | | mental problems such as dementia as you get older). |
| math is still a useful, if not necessary, tool to have, if | | | | Secondly, maths should be taught with passion - |
| only to cross-check the answers from our various | | | | enthusiasm rubs off on people, and the last thing you |
| electronic devices. For example, without some | | | | need is for children to think that their math teacher is |
| fundamental numeracy skills, people today (and we're | | | | doing some sort of penance, being forced to teach |
| mainly, but not exclusively, talking about youngsters | | | | some boring old subject nobody cares about. |
| here) cannot spot obviously wrong answers (e.g. | | | | One of the things that makes humans different from |
| where an additional digit was input to their calculator | | | | other species is their ability to appreciate beauty (or |
| by mistake) because that grounding in number | | | | art, if you will), and however unlikely it may seem (to |
| relationships is just not there. | | | | somebody suffering from math phobia, at least), |
| And the third problem is that children are taught | | | | there is an innate beauty and elegance in numbers |
| arithmetic when they're already too old. | | | | that can be simply awe-inspiring (and the math |
| Now, that may seem strange, as people generally | | | | doesn't even have to be that complex to appreciate |
| assume that math is too difficult for really young | | | | it). |
| children to learn... | | | | And what better way to illustrate this beauty than to |
| ... but they'd be wrong! | | | | highlight the many interconnections between numbers |
| The human brain is like a sponge for the first four | | | | and Mother Nature herself? |
| years or so - soaking up all sorts of knowledge, | | | | |