Concerned about missing math class during COVID-19? 

Were you falling behind in math even before COVID-19, and now you’re wondering how to catch up?

You are not alone.  By March 4, 2020, over 1.5 BILLION students , from primary to college, were forced to stay home from school, according to the U.N.

“It’s really hard to figure out how to parent and take care of my home and try to help my daughter not get far behind in school,” said a Canadian mom who found herself working from home AND homeschooling her kids.   Students are missing their daily structured environment, and they miss their friends.  

Many schools closed in March and will “reopen” in September.  We have yet to hear what that reopening will look like.  Will students go part time?  Will they have to do most of their work online at home?  For subjects like math, how will the teachers help the kids who fell behind?  

The good news is, everyone CAN do well in math!

No matter what level you’re at, you can catch up and learn.

Not everyone has the best environment in which to study and many people don’t get a good foundation in primary and elementary grades; however, with some determination, the right resources, a lot of hard work and grit, you can catch up and  you can do well in math.

Things You Can Do To Improve Your Math

Here are some ideas. Things you can do to catch up in math, keep your skills current, or prepare for the upcoming school year.

1. Talk with your math teacher.  Ask them how you can improve and/or keep your skills current.  
2. Check out Khan Academy (khanacademy.org).  The following is a link where they give you seven tips for making the most of the site:  https://www.khanacademy.org/khan-for-educators/resources/students/resources-for-students/a/seven-tips-for-making-the-most-out-of-khan-academy.
3. Find a tutor.  You can search for another student who can help you.  Maybe someone a couple grades higher than you, or a college student.  Or, you can search for a professional math tutor like at Math Is Your Path.  The second option will require a greater investment; however, if you can do this, it might mean you get into a program or a college of  your choice and lead to a great career in science, medicine, technology, etc. 
4. Investigate other math websites.  There are quite a few of them!  Try:  Math Is Fun, Mathsbot, Math Games, IXL, Multiplication, Timestables, and many more.  Some are free, like Math Is Fun, and some will charge a fee, like IXL.  
5. Sign up for an Outschool class (outschool.com).  You can find a math class for as little as $10.  You will link with the teacher and classmates via zoom.  

References:

Valerie Strauss, Schools of more than 90 percent of the world’s students closed during this pandemic, The Washington Post, April 6, 2020.

Gregory Strong, The math ain’t working:  online schooling not a smooth transition for parents during Covid-19, The Canadian Press, May 15, 2020.

WHICH IS BETTER?  THE NEW MATH OR THE OLD MATH?

The Old Math, or the older method of teaching math is criticized as it is focused on memorization, rather than understanding.  The New Math is described as a teaching method that promotes deeper understanding of math concepts.  

For example, when multiplying two binomials, say, (a + b)(c + d), the Old Math teaches the FOIL method (First, Outside, Inside, Last).  

It is the sum of:

• multiplying the First terms,
• multiplying the Outer terms,
• multiplying the Inner terms, and
• multiplying the Last terms

Example: (a+b)(c+d) = ac + ad + bc + bd

The New Math says “don’t teach FOIL” because it is just memorization of a method, or algorithm that applies to the multiplication of two binomials.  Rather, teach The Distributive Property of Multiplication which not only describes why FOIL works, but can be applied to many other types of multiplication problems.  

(The Distributive Property states that when a number is multiplied by the sum of two numbers, the first number can be distributed to both of those numbers and multiplied by each of them separately, then adding the two products together for the same result as multiplying the first number by the sum. 

Example: 2 X (3 + 5) = 2 X 3 + 2 X 5 = 16 and 2 X 8 = 16).  

So, 

OLD MATH = MEMORIZATION OF ALGORITHMS

NEW MATH = DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF MATH CONCEPTS

I was fortunate to have been taught a mix of The Old Math and The New Math when I was a student in public school.  So, I understand why we can have a mix of both.  

DO YOU WANT TO WRITE THE ALGORITHM OR WORK FOR AN ALGORITHM?

Let’s look at algorithms.  What is an algorithm?  

“ a process or set of rules to be followed in calculations or other problem-solving operations, especially by a computer.”  (Dictionary.com)

Algorithms are becoming more and more a part of our daily lives.  Why? Because algorithms are used to “tell” computers what to do. Here is a good explanation of what algorithms are used for:

“To make a computer do anything, you have to write a computer program. To write a computer program, you have to tell the computer, step by step, exactly what you want it to do. The computer then ‘executes’ the program, following each step mechanically, to accomplish the end goal. When you are telling the computer what to do, you also get to choose how it’s going to do it. That’s where computer algorithms come in. The algorithm is the basic technique used to get the job done.”

(https://computer.howstuffworks.com/what-is-a-computer-algorithm.htm)

Some people argue that algorithms are taking over the world, or that they “work for an algorithm”.  Work for an algorithm? What does that mean? Well, Uber drivers don’t have supervisors, but they do have algorithms.  Uber increases its efficiency by managing over three million workers with an app that instructs drivers which passengers to pick up and which route to take.

So, does it follow that it you learn critical thinking (NEW MATH), you can write the algorithm, but if you memorize (OLD MATH), that means you’ll end up working for an algorithm?  I don’t think it’s quite so cut and dried.  

In my current tutoring, I see students struggle because their adding and multiplication skills are poor.  Have we pushed the NEW MATH too far, so that we can’t quickly add numbers in our head? Is it WRONG to memorize 7X6 = 54?  

I believe that critical thinking and deeper understanding will allow students to perform at higher levels, and ultimately, get the better jobs.  I also believe that as teachers and tutors, we can also go too far in supporting the NEW MATH. There has to be some allowance for learning short cuts, memorizing multiplication tables and simple algorithms like how to do long division. 

Let’s have a mix of both:  old math and new math.  

Math Can Lead To A Great Career

If you enjoy math, you can get a career where you use it all the time, and you can make over US $100,000  a year. Here are some examples from www.learnhowtobecome.org :

• Mathematician 
• Economist
• Actuary
• Statistician
• Computer and Information Research Scientists

What if you don’t love math, but want to go to college or university?  If you want to go into a STEM field (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), the school you apply to will want to see that you can succeed in higher-level math.  They expect that you have taken algebra, geometry and calculus.  

Here are some examples of STEM careers:

• Software developer
• Physician 
• Dentist
• Cartographer
• Engineer
• Veterinarian

Understanding Financial Math Can Save You Money

If you understand interest rates, you will know that even a half of a percent (0.5 %) difference in an interest rate can save you a lot of money on a loan or mortgage.  Christopher Murray, on the website www.moneyunder30.com , says that 

“a 1 percent difference in mortgage rate on a $200,000 home with a $160,000 mortgage increases your monthly payment by almost $100. Although the difference in monthly payment may not seem that extreme, the 1 percent higher rate means you’ll pay approximately $30,000 more in interest over the 30-year term. Ouch!”

What would YOU do with that extra $30,000?  

Or, perhaps you want to buy a new car and the dealership tells you that you can lease the car for $100 less per month.  Would leasing be better than purchasing? How can you figure this out? At the end of a 5 year lease, you give the car back to the dealership.  If you buy the car, you own (or partly own) the car. Which is better?  

If you travel, you will use math

Let’s plan a two week trip to Nova Scotia, Canada.  Make a list of all of the different types of calculations you would need to do.  How many kilometers will you travel? Will you fly or drive? What is the cost of each?  What other costs do you need to figure out? You will need to know how to use fractions, proportional reasoning, estimation and maybe use a table or diagram.  All of these require the knowledge of math.

Using Math When Shopping

When grocery shopping, you can use math to decide which items are best to buy.  Does a “deal” always mean that you will save money? Sometimes a type of produce will go on “sale” for a certain amount per pound.  At first it seems like a great price. Wait, have another look! What if you saw the price per kilogram? Would it still seem like a great price?  How many kilograms in a pound? This is where your math skills are needed.  

If you had $80 to spend on back to school clothes, how would you calculate the price of a t-shirt that was 20% off?  If you buy two pairs of pants, you can save ⅓ off the price. You would need to know how to calculate percentages and fractions.