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3 Steps To Picking A Math Curriculum
The Student's Learning Style Understanding your child's learning style really means knowing your child. Now this probably appears pretty simplistic since most of the time we're homeschooling our own children. But what this means is having a good grasp of what your student's learning style is. You will find a number of various math curriculum available that take various approaches to learning. So being familiar with your student's inherent learning style is critical in determining the best math curriculum for them. What exactly are the basic learning styles? Well, if you research, you will discover 3. They are Visual Learners, Auditory Learners and Kinesthetic (or Tactile) Learners. Kids who are visual learners understand by way of seeing. Such things as pictures, diagrams, whiteboard illustrations, etc. is going to be far more successful for visual learners. Auditory learners learn through listening. Auditory learners find learning settings most effective if they include lecture, dialogue, listening along with the chance to talk as they process material. Have you got a child or student that's usually fiddling with some thing while you try and teach them? Odds are they are a Kinesthetic or Tactile learner. This style will find a learning environment most efficient when the environment permits hand's on activity and exploring the physical world. Kinesthetic learners are hard pressed to sit still for a long time and will need activity incorporated into their lessons. So what's that got to do with a homeschool math curriculum? Well you will find a variety of homeschool math curriculum out there to suit each learning style. Start up by evaluating what math curriculum has the features that meet the needs of your student's style, for example manipulatives, materials with pictures and diagrams, DVDs, CDs, flash cards, etc. Do you know the materials like and are they suitable to your student in line with their style? Curriculum Teaching Technique Your 2nd primary consideration in selecting a math curriculum is the educational philosophy. Math has historically been taught making use of a approach referred to as mastery and if you're over 40 that's likely how you studied math. The mastery approach is basically a approach of teaching where students master one idea before moving on to the next level. A much more contemporary educational philosophy is the spiral method, sometimes known as 'fuzzy math' in which new concepts are introduced at the same time and students eventually come to an understanding of the concepts as they go. The thought behind the spiral approach is that the pathway of learning is what is emphasized as opposed to memorization and concept mastery. Many homeschool curriculum will use a mixture of these two with an emphasis on mastering concepts, however still introducing new concepts into lessons while incorporating quite a few review which reiterates the previously learned concepts. While the spiral math technique seems to dominate today's government schools, there's a strong body of research out there that argues that the mastery method is far more effective in producing students who are confident and skilled in mathematics. The Teacher's Style Finally, you also need to consider your teaching style as well as your knowledge of it. Is math difficult for you or do you possess a strong background in math concepts and are you comfortable teaching the subject? If you are somebody to whom math has constantly been a challenge, you will discover a wide variety of math curriculums available that can aid you, either with a compressive teachers manual or, even greater, with video based instruction. Video and DVD based curriculum are wonderful tools that will provide instructor based learning if the subject is not your strong suit. Maybe you're one who likes math and who is very comfortable teaching math. 1 of the wonderful advantages of homeschooling is that you have the freedom to use different curriculum to fit your student and you can customize curriculum. Up to now, I've focused much more on those who genuinely need a curriculum to help with math education. But if you're one who is comfortable teaching math, bear in mind that a curriculum is simply a guide and not something you have to rigidly adhere to. Your child or student's education is going to be much more determined by you than by the curriculum you select. A teacher who understands their students' learning styles and aptitudes can take even a mediocre curriculum and make a great encounter out of it. If math's not your thing, then yes your curriculum choice will be far more important, but here's a word of advice. Even if math is difficult for you, do not assume it'll be challenging for your children. Several homeschool parents have produced self fulfilling prophecies by talking about how difficult math is and how they are not very good at it. Bear in mind, as a homeschool parent one of our roles would be to encourage our children and students. An encouraging word and an attitude of "we're in this together" can make all the difference between a student who assumes it's too challenging just because you said so and one who develops an appreciation for mathematics. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com For more information about homeschooling and homeschool curriculum, check out the resources available at www.homeschoolcurriculumhq.com. |
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