Article Educational Series : Erlass Smart
How do you feel about Math? Do you have passion for it? Do you get good score or you always get bad ones? Do you like the subject or you hate it? Do you often get stuck and don’t know to work things out?
Anyone can be good at Math. Anyone. It’s a soft skill that most people should and could learn. You could predict things out of some visible patterns. It is also improve your problem solving skill, even in an expanded level!
Being good at something is a matter of practice and loving the subject as part of life. Our parents, teachers, family members, and of course your friends, could be your “hands-on” tutors. In the past, my 5th grade Math teacher in SDStrada Jakarta was so surprised when I got a 10 (finally…. after a string of 6s and 7s). He was dazzled by the result and asked me how I did so well. I said I just knew answers, and then explained that my parents got frustrated with my previous scores. I studied a lot for three months with my private teacher (a Math university student from Universitas Nasional). Thankfully, I paid a lot of attention (couldn’t escape the lessons). I also added that after my study hours with her, I played badminton with my neighbors. I didn’t know at that time that doing any active sports actually could improve our right brain (motoric skills) and thus, our vain happiness.
So the points are:
1. Get smart! The more you practice, the more familiar you become with Math. Buy some math-learning games: blocks, cubes, Lego, or ot
her cheap/recycled tools to help practice your math skills. Even you better try the game of chess. Its patterns, techniques, strategies, and schemes could really enhance your analytical skills.
2. Memorize the multiplication tables. Once you know it by heart, you actually increase your basic math skills with division and any other multiplication.
3. Don’t feel afraid of math. Don’t be intimidated by some difficulties that you’ve heard (perceived) from others. Once you are able to solve one problem, your heart would feel very happy, and you would feel motivated to solve other math games.
4. You have to study frequently (with textbooks, student activities books, some tables, your own notes, etc.) and practice every question until you really know how to solve it in an instant. Math, biology, chemistry, or even other subjects, require good concentration. Don’t play with your PS, BB or talking to other people, watching, or listening to music while doing your home works, because these activities may interfere your basic ability to comprehend the math problems.
5. Look for patterns in math. Ask your teacher or parents to teach you the ability to look for some order, logic, and organization in many facets. Tell your teacher to share his/her practical knowledge of basic mathematical patterns.
For example: 0x9 + 1= 1, 1x9 + 2= 11, 12x9 + 3= 111, 123x9 + 4 = 1,111, etc. You see it?
6. Write any question about specific problem that you don’t understand or cannot solve. Think, think, think, and try to solve it. Then, ask help form your teachers/parents/ friends. Go to the teachers’ office and ask your teacher about your problem. Teachers are very happy, feel honored, and truly motivated when students are active and curious.
7. Be an active learner. Once you become acquainted with some formulas, try to find another formula to get that specific answer or try to explain that formula to you friends.
For example: 12= 1x1= 1, 22 = 2 x2=4, 32= 3x3=9, 42= 4x4 =16
Other way: 12= 1, 22= 1+3=4, 32= 1+3+5=9, 42= 1+3+5+7 =16 and so on
8. Do some sport or art works because these interesting and fun social activities would really induce your right brain and thus, empower your math abilities! (dphst12_30102012)
IF YOU HAVE SOME QUESTIONS WITH YOUR MATH HOMEWORK, ASK ERLASS AT This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it