How to effectively use the video lessons.

Ideas for Parents to help support the studying and learning of Mathematics

1) Encourage practising the basics (Adding, Subtracting, Multiplying and Dividing). Mental math does matter, students should be confident with doing these without a calculator. Reliance on a calculator is one of the primary reasons why students struggle understanding new math lessons, as they have difficulty understanding where the numbers in the lesson are coming from. Encourage regular practice, and discourage them reaching for the calculator. Repetition is the key for these math facts to be engraved into long-term memory.

2) Don’t allow Multi-tasking during study time. No phones, no tech, no distractions near them. Multi-tasking while studying is very inefficient. They can get twice as much done if they focus on one task. If they insist on listening to music while studying, have them preset their playlist with music that they have listened to many times before. Have them choose songs that blend into the background and does not take away from their concentration.

3) Study locations matter - change it up. If someone only ever studies in one place, then the brain associates this as being the “place where you learn”. Have a variety of study locations for them. Make it so their brain is adaptable to learning in a variety of locations. If they are someone who “freezes up” on tests, this might be the reason why, their brain has been conditioned to only know the material in one location.

4) Encourage “Recall” memory while studying. On tests, the brain needs to bring back information, so encourage that practice while studying as well. If they are just reading notes over and over again, it is not enough, they need to practice recalling the information to mirror what they will be need to do on the test. Encourage practice questions. Have them say the steps “out loud” to themselves. Have them teach you how to do the concept.

5) Ditch the Apps / Technology. Go Analog. Apps are flashy and have built-in distractions. Odds are they are not focused on what they are actually supposed to be learning. Have them write down the questions/ answers instead. Force the brain to focus on the question, and not the score on the app. Engagement is not the same as learning. Just because they “like” it, does not mean that it is actually working.

6) NO AI assistance. AI is a shortcut. Learning is hard and rigorous. Don’t allow them to shortcut it with AI assistance, as it is robbing them of valuable learning experiences.

7) Allow them to be bored. The brain consolidates learning and makes connections when bored. Solutions will seem to magically jump into their head when they are relaxed and are seemingly bored. Don’t allow them to run from boredom by grabbing their phone.

8) Encourage handwritten notes/ lessons. If possible, handwritten notes are much better than screens or typed ones. A persons brain remembers their own writing much better. Handwriting is also forces it to work and think at multiple levels while writing down the lesson.

9) Encourage Sleeping, Eating, and Moving as part of the learning process. Taking care of oneself will allow their brain to be able to operate and make connections at its full capacity.

10) Simply watching math is NOT learning. Just watching a video on something does not mean that they are learning it. Make sure that they practice it as well. Have them make their own notes from the video. They can pause the video and try to answer the questions on their own.