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Mercifully we adults don’t remember how we struggled to hold a pencil correctly while learning to write. Nor do we remember how often we had to copy out individual letters so they’d stick in our minds. It really was a hard slog and it consumed a lot of time and effort.
But we persevered and all the sweat and frustration paid off. Slowly our clumsy fingers taught the pencil how to behave and we began to feel more comfortable writing our letters. And before long they began to fade into their allotted places inside words.
The hours of practice and effort had paid off and we stepped up from thinking about letters to thinking about words.
Now, of course, we put the writing part of writing on automatic pilot and concentrate instead on what we want to say.
What we did was over-learn the art of writing through constant repetition and practice.*
The same process of over-learning is gone through while mastering speech and reading, and riding a bicycle. So why not do the same for the fundamentals of mathematics?
We wouldn’t dream of asking grade 7 students to write in-depth essays on Shakespearian word usage. We know they’re not ready for it. Yet we do ask those same kids to cope with fairly complex math processes by simply assuming that:
· they have successfully mastered all essential numeric skills on which such processes depend; and,
· thoroughly understand the words we use or they read in textbooks.
Without these two essentials, student confidence in math and science will remain fragile and may well explain why improving standards have proved to be such a difficult task.
Please give what this booklet contains a month-long trial run. You have nothing to lose and the children in your classes may just give you the best surprise you’ve enjoyed in years!
* Perhaps I should not have used writing as an over-learning example. With neat handwriting no longer a priority, educators may not appreciate the part penmanship training plays in developing self-discipline and tenacity.
THE IDEAL MATH CONFIDENCE BOOSTER!
4.125X 6.875” perfect bound, 60 page booklet. Price $7.25 post free.
