Tag: Teaching

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Don’t Lose Sight of Math’s Usefulness

math

It’s easy in anything we do to forget why we’re doing it. In math especially, it can be easy for students to lose sight of why they’re learning what they’re learning.

As you head back to school this fall, remember to keep bringing math out of a textbook and showing its usefulness. Below are a few ideas.

Grade School

  • Play store by putting masking tape price tags on toys. (Make the costs children are learning–for example, a toy might cost 24 cents or 14 cents. There’s no need to write it out with decimals yet–24¢ works.) If teaching place value, have them figure out how many dimes and how many pennies are needed (for 24¢, that would be 2 dimes and 4 pennies). If working on addition, have them total up how much several toys would cost. If working on subtraction, figure out the change they’d need to give if you gave them a certain amount of money. Adjust the amounts to match the type of problems they’re working on. You can even sometimes let them use a calculator to practice inputting numbers…and to emphasis how, because of how faithfully God governs creation, we can memorize facts (or input them into a calculator) to make addition and subtraction easier.
  • Incorporate math into play. If your child likes to play with stuffed animals, play act a scenario where some animals go missing to illustrate subtraction. If your child is into blocks, make up a scenario where the block guy is given some extra blocks to illustrate addition. The possibilities are endless. If your child is into bugs, have them measure some bugs. If into playing princess, have a scenario where extra lumps of sugar get added to the princess’ cup.
  • Point out ways you use math in daily life–even if it’s something simple like setting the air conditioner’s or oven’s temperature…or measuring ingredients for dinner.

Junior High and High School

Students at this level now have the background knowledge to delve into some really cool applications and to see at a deeper level how we use math to describe God’s creation! Pay attention to percentages in the news. Capitalize on different science concepts they’re studying, pointing out the math involved (the Internet is a great resource to research–or have them research). Explore the math used in fields of interest to them. The possibilities are truly endless.

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Need ready-to-go-ideas or a curriculum that already includes lots of practical examples? Check out our math materials.

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When You Feel Like Giving Up

I buried my head in my hand, frustrated beyond words and feeling completely incapable. I’d been trying to get through this chapter for days now, and it just wasn’t jelling. To top it, the computer was misbehaving, and I wasn’t feeling well. Why was I writing this again?

As you teach your children math, do you ever find yourself feeling discouraged or frustrated? If so, you’re not alone. We live in a world where things do get difficult. But we also serve a God who works all things together for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28).

For me, the discouragement forced me to reexamine why I was doing what I was doing. I realized anew it was because I’d been called—and with that came the knowledge that, much as I felt otherwise, if God had called me to a task, then I could do it in Him. I couldn’t carry on—but He could. And if He’d called me to do this, He would make a way.

If an aspect of math—or the thought of teaching high school math—has you scared, run to your King. If He has called you to do it, then He will make a way…and you’ll be so blessed as you watch Him work.

P.S. I’d love for you to write me and let me know what areas of math are causing frustrations. It would be an honor to pray for you and to share any thoughts I might have.

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Keeping the Heart

heartWriting a math curriculum has given me a new appreciation for how easy it is to lose the heart in math. We want students to understand how to convert units, how to find a volume, how to multiply, etc. Before we realize it, we get so focused on drilling the mechanics that we lose sight of the things that matter most–seeing the Lord, worshiping Him, etc.

I keep having to remind myself to step back from the details and remember the big picture–to remember that within math, we have an opportunity to ponder God’s faithfulness (without which none of math would work), His greatness, His care, etc. But just as we have to be intentional in life to keep our minds upon God, we have to intentionally focus on God in math too…or the most important things get buried in the details.

Watch next week for a few thoughts on how measurement reminds us of God’s greatness…in the meantime, please leave a comment with how your math school year is going and any thoughts or suggestions you’d like to share.