Over the past 16 years, I've worked with a lot of students who have a variety of ages and skill levels. Many who come in for math help have struggled for years and finally hit a wall during their high school years. By the time they come in to see me, we are dealing with a student who not only hates math, but is beginning to hate school as well...we have a lot to overcome by this time!
Of course, the first thing that we do is take a look at where the root of the problem is--then figure out how we can fix it. Most of the time we can, and we are hopeful that the student is willing to believe that we can and be patient with the process. We evaluate the students' skills, looking at everything that the student should know by this point in their school career.
You know what I find most often? That the student does not have a clue what to do with a fraction! A FRACTION! These fraction skills are taught in the 5th grade--then often not taught again, except as they apply to higher math. And as each math class piles on more and more difficult fraction skills, the student gets more and more discouraged.
The up side is, by high school, most kid-brains are able to figure them out! They just need to be given simple, step-by-step directions. I love it when we show a student how easy fractions are when you break them down. I love seeing the student slowly (but surely) not hate math anymore. I love it that math is no longer big and scary!
Next week is a fun week at Sylvan. We are teaching a class JUST ON FRACTIONS! So we will have a group of kiddos who no longer fear the big bad fraction!
Do you have a student in this boat? If you are reading this you probably do. Don't wait another year and hope it gets better. It won't. Give us a call and we'll make it better--for everyone!
1-866-949-4776
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