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How To Prepare Your Child For Their Future

It’s a daunting task, preparing your child for their future. But it’s a responsibility that all parents face. No one can predict the future, but by taking some simple steps now, you can help ensure that your child is on a path to success when it comes to their education and beyond. 

In a world that is increasingly reliant on technology, math skills are more important than ever. With the globalization of the workforce, many jobs now require math skills in order to be successful. In addition, higher math skills are often required on standardized tests to be eligible for certain colleges or programs. As a result, parents must become actively involved in helping their children excel in math. There are many ways parents can help their children improve their math skills. Here we will discuss some simple steps that can be taken to help children who may be struggling with math and set them up for their future. 

A Strong Education

As children enter school, they are faced with a whole new range of subjects to learn. Among these is mathematics, which is often seen as one of the most important. That’s because a strong foundation in math is essential for success in many other areas. For instance, children who have difficulty with basic arithmetic are likely to struggle when they reach higher levels of math, such as algebra and geometry. Additionally, children who don’t develop good problem-solving skills in math may have trouble in other subjects that require those skills, such as science and social studies. That’s why it’s crucial for parents to ensure their children receive a strong math education at school. Parents can help set them up for success in school and beyond by providing a solid foundation in math.

Learning Starts At Home

As any parent knows, children are constantly learning. They take in new information and experiences from the moment they are born. And while much of their early learning takes place in the classroom, studies have shown that parents play a critical role in their children’s education

A recent study from researchers at the University of Toronto, found that children whose parents provided them with extra help with their math education at home were more likely than those who did not receive such assistance to get higher grades.

While the study did not specifically examine why this is the case, it is likely that receiving extra help with math at home gives children a better foundation for building their skills and knowledge. In addition, children who receive assistance from their parents with their math homework are likely to feel more confident in their abilities and be more motivated to succeed. As a result, parents who want to set their children up for success in the future should make sure to provide them with extra help and practise with their math education at home.

Math Clubs And Competitions

A love of math can open up a world of opportunities for children. It can provide them with the critical thinking skills they need to succeed in school and in their future careers. For parents who want their children to excel, encouraging them to participate in math-related enrichment activities is a great way to get them excited about the subject. Math clubs and competitions are a great way for children to socialize with others who share their mathematics interests. They can also help children develop important problem-solving skills. In addition, participating in these activities can give children a sense of accomplishment and pride. As a result, parents who want their children to succeed should encourage them to seek out math-related enrichment activities.

Taking An Active Role

Parents can help ensure that their children have the skills they need to succeed in the 21st century by taking an active role in their children’s math education. If your child is struggling with mathematics, getting involved is even more important. This may be the time to invest in a math intervention program that can help fill in any learning gaps they are experiencing. But don’t just Google, “Math tutor near me.” Take time to research different educational options and programs. With so many choices available today, it’s essential to do your homework and find the right fit for your child. Talk to friends and family, check out online resources, or schedule consultations with schools or tutoring centers to learn more about what’s available. 

At Dropkick Math Academy, we believe the relationships between parent, student, and educator are key to achieving mastery in mathematics. With this objective in mind, our experienced educators will help facilitate a parent’s understanding of mathematics so they can adequately support their child’s journey to excelling in elementary mathematics. Lasting success is achieved by learning together!

Foster A Love Of Learning

Encourage your child to take an interest in learning. Help foster a love of learning at an early age by reading books together, participating in educational activities outside of school, and challenging them with engaging games. If children understand that learning can be enjoyable, they will continue on in life, eager to learn and succeed. 

At Dropkick Math, we create a fun and dynamic educational environment through engaging games and interactive learning tools. This way of learning encourages children to enjoy the process of education and help them to want to continue with their studies even outside of school. 

If your child struggles with math or is showing a gap in learning caused by missed school from the pandemic, we can help! Our innovative programs focus on the fundamental misunderstandings children may have in math and provide them with the skills they need to keep advancing to the next level of competency. By focusing on math concepts such as number sense, operational sense, algebraic reasoning, and proportional reasoning, our engaging programs help students fully understand the base fundamentals of mathematics. To learn more about our programs, visit our website today.

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Learn Math

Does Your Child Have The Illusion Of Understanding

In psychology, the term “illusion of understanding” is used to describe a situation in which a person believes that they understand something better than they actually do. This often happens when people are trying to explain something to someone else. They may think they know it perfectly well, but only partially or superficially in reality. This can be a problem for parents when their children try to explain something to them. Parents need to be aware of this illusion and not interpret their children’s explanations as actual understanding. Otherwise, they may not be providing the appropriate level of support and instruction.

False Sense Of Confidence

The illusion of learning can be a tempting trap for students to fall into. Recognizing information once it is presented can give the illusion that they have learned the material, but in reality, they can only recall it as long as they are given clues. This can create a false sense of confidence and lead to frustration down the road when the material must be recalled without any hints. 

When studying, your child needs to test recall regularly to ensure that they are actually learning the material and not just memorizing it for the time being. By making a conscious effort to recall information without any prompts, they can avoid the illusion of learning and set themself up for success in the long run.

Serious Consequences

Some modern education emphasizes memorization over true learning, which can have serious consequences for students’ development. The illusion of learning, or the confusion between recall and recognition, is a perfect example of this phenomenon in action. When students simply memorize facts or concepts without truly understanding them, they may appear to be proficient in certain subjects. However, this illusion of learning often leads to poor performance later on when more complex material is introduced. 

While many people think that simply memorizing information or performing rote repetition will lead to a true understanding of a topic, this type of behaviour does not indicate comprehension. Instead, true learning occurs when students can recall and recognize the information that they have learned effectively.

At its core, this confusion can have profound implications for children’s learning. When students rely solely on rote repetition or memorization, they fail to grasp the underlying concepts of what they are studying thoroughly. Instead of merely cramming facts into their minds, students must learn how to think critically about the topics presented in class. Only by attaining this level of critical thinking can students better understand concepts and apply them across different situations—ultimately ensuring success both inside and outside the classroom. Thus, in order to help children succeed academically, we must focus on developing their ability to recall and recognize what they are learning instead of simply relying on illusionary memories that may ultimately lead them down the wrong path.

Tricks and Tips

An analogy that I regularly use when speaking with parents about the illusion of learning is that a child can read a book over and over again, but it doesn’t mean they necessarily understand it. In education, we teach children all sorts of tricks and tips to help them learn, but some children just memorize the catchy rhyme or funny diagram instead of grasping the concept. 

There is one rhyme that students love to repeat that goes, “6 and 8 went on a date and didn’t come back till they were 48.” While this is a great way to get children interested in learning multiplication, many simply learn the rhyme, so it appears like they understand their multiplication tables. However, they may not be able to describe how multiplication actually works. 

Unfortunately, this story is all too familiar. I have seen it in far too many children who can throw together many riddles and rhymes to show me their multiplication or division skills, but they do not have any authentic understanding of what they are actually saying. When I ask them more questions about math fundamentals, they often just completely blank out. 

Quick Gratification

Many students often fall into the trap of feeling like they are learning when, in reality, they are simply memorizing information for the sake of quick gratification. This illusion of learning tricks them into believing that their endless hours of preparation will bear fruit, and this sense of confidence convinces them that their studying is effective. However, as most students know all too well, this kind of illusion is often just a mirage; despite all that hard work, study results do not come to fruition. Many students blame themselves for being “stupid” or “dumb” when these setbacks inevitably occur”. But in reality, the root cause of their failure is not a lack of intelligence or aptitude; instead, it is because they have fallen prey to the illusion of learning. 

Ultimately, students need to realize that true learning requires much more than rote memorization; it requires persistence and dedication to reap real rewards. Only then can they break free from this never-ending cycle and succeed in their studies.

We Understand The Illusion Of Learning

At Dropkick Math, we understand the illusion of learning and take steps in our programs to ensure children fully understand the material rather than simply memorize it. All of our instructors are certified Ontario teachers who understand education and the need to work with children to make sure they fully grasp the ideas being taught. 

Our math help services focus on the four pillars of math (number sense, operational sense, proportional reasoning, algebraic reasoning). We teach children that math is fun and that learning it can also be enjoyed through engaging games. So, before you start doing a Google search for “math for grade 4” to help your child with any gaps in their learning, check out our programs and learn how we are different from a typical math tutor. 

Get started today by having your child complete our FREE assessment!