184 Days of Learning

Math for the Kids – Tech for Me

I was asked a few weeks ago to help some of our struggling students with math.  I also find math challenging, so I knew I would have some difficulties.

The first day we had the traditional hand out sheet and the group struggled through.  About half-way through the lesson I saw their eyes glaze over and I knew I’d lost them.  Knowing that the students were not benefiting from the experience we stopped for the day.

The next time I got them I had done “my” homework.  I had spent some time online looking up Area and Perimeter lessons.  I found a website that appealed to me as a learner. It was brightly coloured with flashing graphics and GAMES.

I introduced the website to the students and saw the intrigue and wonder on their faces about using a computer to work on Math. The children were very engaged, working in teams.  One person had the computer, the other had the calculator. The person on the computer read out the lengths of the sides of the shapes and the second person added up the total.  The first person entered the answer in the computer.

It became an exciting and fun game between the students to see who got the answer correct first.  It was the first time I’d ever seen a student fist pump in math.

I loved seeing the light going on for the kids as the understood the concepts and how to get the answer and that math can be fun, you just have to look.

Debra Mills is one of two Native Liaison workers at Seba Beach. She has been working at Seba and with the kids for 7 years.  She often works with kids in a one-to-one or small group setting to assist with learning.  Deb is learning as are many parents that technology although intimidating can be very effective and a wonderful tool to assist children.