![]() Repetition is one of the cornerstones of the Saxon program and many Asian-based methods of math that rely on memorization, such as the Singapore method. But if a child has to stop to think what 9 times 12 equals, it can throw her off in solving more complex problems. One of the biggest criticisms (although some say it’s a strength) of the American math education system is that rote memorization isn’t emphasized. While we do want to make math fun and promote deeper thinking, kids must develop a strong set of basics to rely on when that deeper thinking kicks in. And some also like being able to feel good about getting problems right instead of feeling bad if they ever get something wrong.” Strive for mastery Ellison writes, “Kids really like it when they learn to do things that they know are hard. ![]() The basis for both books is that children want to be challenged. The success of that book led to another, Hard Math for Elementary School, published in 2013. He wrote a series of worksheets to help his student mathletes prepare, and the worksheets became so popular that he compiled them into a 2010 book, Hard Math for Middle School. Mathematical Olympiad, and Ellison has coached teams of grade-school students for math competitions. His oldest, Caroline, qualified for the U.S.A. Ellison is also the father of three girls, all of whom are mathletes. Glenn Ellison, an economics professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, works on game theory that relies heavily on his mathematics background. In her controversial 2011 best seller, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, Amy Chua argues that children may find playing a musical instrument hard at times, but the difficulty is actually what makes it fun. So how can we encourage our young daughters - and sons - to start training as mathletes? Make it hard, which makes it fun Despite earning better grades, however, they don’t go into math-intensive fields and are underrepresented at the highest levels of math achievement. Throughout grade school - and even into high school and college - females outperform males in math classes. ![]() To tackle this issue head on, we need to help more math-competent kids become high-performing mathletes who participate in clubs and competitions, especially young women. But children often dislike the subject, and math homework can be a struggle in many households. Everyday life demands an increasing amount of math fluency starting when we’re young. Even if your child prefers athletics to “mathletics,” it’s more important than ever that kids learn the language of math.
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