Today your mission is...
Before starting something today, ask yourself “What is it really all about?”
Ready, Set, Go
This question helps you make or recall the list of things that matter the most to you. It is a value affirmation question. Affirming your values before an activity gives you emotional support. It reduces anxiety and increases the will to persevere. But did you know that value affirmation also helps with problem-solving and with computational accuracy? Learn more at the Brilliant Report.
With kids, value affirmation can be as simple as recalling their favorite things before or during math activities: puppies, snowflakes, superheroes… Listen to the song from The Sound of Music for more ideas.
When working with grown-ups, we usually ask them to share their dreams. We’ve found that adults often share dreams together with worries. Not wanting to repeat past negative experience can be a powerful value affirmation.
As we plan activities for kids, it helps to keep dreams in mind. So here are two questions to get you started:
1. When it comes to your children and learning mathematics, what are your dreams? What is it really all about?
2. Imagine that your math dreams for your children came true. How do you see your children learn multiplication, and use multiplication?
Respond below!
Answer by Silversmithy · Apr 10, 2014 at 02:52 AM
1. I dream that he views mathematics as a language that--upon gaining fluency--he sees is actually the key to a number of other languages.
2. That he use this language and all its related languages fluently and comfortably.
Answer by Katec · Apr 10, 2014 at 12:41 PM
I hope that they enjoy math and find satisfaction in persevering when they encounter and work through a tough problem. I see them using multiplication in practical activities they enjoy such as sewing and animal care.
Answer by Lamhita · Apr 10, 2014 at 03:33 PM
I dream they can learn and use mathematic as a natural things in life, like put on a shoe or reading a book. I hope they understand the importance of mathematic in their real life, not only memorizing numbers or rules but feel confortable about math. I see my children learn multiplication having fun with games, manipulation works, drawings, body movements...they learn without beeing worry about learning or making fault, then when it comes to do some multiplication for making a recipe, doing a work or creating something, they simply use math and multiplication like they are using other systems. I dream they develope a mathematic mind, a logic mind that helping them solve problems in their future life, with logic and creativity.
Answer by cleabz · Apr 10, 2014 at 04:34 PM
I already replied to this but wanted to post an update. My 8-year-old daughter was struggling with a new piano piece. I asked her to stop and tell me what things were the most important things in the world to her, and what she loved and valued. At first she struggled and fought a little, but but she got into it and her affect brightened. Then I asked her to hold that feeling in her body and return to the peice. She was able to execute it at a much higher level, and when she stumbled, she didn't melt down! She asked what happened, and I explained about the essence of the article listed above. Very cool!
Great putting it into practice! I'll remember this when we sit at the piano later today!
Thank you for sharing! There are several people in this course who mentioned meltdowns as a problem they hope to solve. I am so glad the technique made a difference for your girl!!!
Answer by Sutrali · Apr 10, 2014 at 05:46 PM
I dream that my son can regain the natural understanding he had of math early on. I want his struggles and fears replaced with understanding and confidence.
If this dream comes true then multiplication will become easy and second nature to him.
Answer by mngiggle · Apr 11, 2014 at 02:49 PM
My goal is that my children can learn to do math more intuitively and creatively than I was ever able to, and to eventually be able to "speak math" in ways that I can't.
Answer by MrSteve · Apr 12, 2014 at 12:18 AM
First that my children enjoy learning. Not just easy learning, but ideally "hard fun." That they learn to use math in their lives for practical purposes (staying out of debt, living within their means, budgeting, building wealth etc) and hopefully that they find beauty in math (if they are built way)
Answer by mamaof3creates · Apr 12, 2014 at 11:27 AM
My dream is to have my children love math and not see it as a separate subject that they study in school. They would also easily be able to use math in their daily lives (paying bills, budgeting, etc.). I would also like it that if they were faced with math problems that they would find it enjoyable to work at it and to solve it. I would also like them to see the beauty in math.
Answer by Noursler · Apr 12, 2014 at 11:33 AM
I imagine my children learning to see math in the real world around them, to see it as an integral part of their lives and to feel comfortable and confident in experimenting with it.
Answer by Isabella17 · Apr 12, 2014 at 11:33 AM
I want my children to love what mathematics can show them, whether it be the natural world or their day to day life. I hope they will not see math as a 'chore' but as a step towards better understanding of other subjects. I see my children learning multiplication in whatever way 'clicks'.
Answer by AnnMarie · Apr 13, 2014 at 06:35 PM
1. I dream that they can see the math...the patterns, the space it occupies, and how it is relevant to their lives. I want them to be able to use math to make life simpler, and more importantly, to be able to ponder a question and know how and when math can help them formulate how to ask the question in a way that helps them find relevant answers.
2. 2 of my 3 boys have learned multiplication differently than I expected and differently from each other. I hope to gain a variety of access points to support their learnings. I see them as using multiplication as a way of more quickly figuring out tangible amounts around them.
Answer by lisa.koops · Apr 15, 2014 at 07:06 PM
1. I dream that my children will enjoy learning math - figuring out how the world works - and that they enjoy math for math's sake as well as gain abilities to do whatever they want to in life that requires math.
2. I see my children learning multiplication with a sense of wonder at the way the world works. I see them using multiplication to make play more creative, to do art, to understand rhythm, to build higher math skills.
Answer by ChristyM · Apr 16, 2014 at 03:54 AM
I dream that my children can speak the language of math confidently as adults. I dream that they will see the beauty of the patterns found in the physical world, and enjoy the games of mathematics. Specifically, I hope that my children will recognize multiplication when it appears in their every day lives.
Answer by vissertribe · Apr 21, 2014 at 02:19 PM
1. My dream for my children is to be able to see the relationships to the world around them.
2. For multiplication I want them to be able to quickly see the relationships of the numbers and be able to explore new concepts without feeling like collapsing to their knees when I introduce something new.
Answer by charlotte.mazur · Apr 26, 2014 at 02:36 AM
I dream of keeping my daughter excited about math. She told me she likes math at home, but math at school is boring her. I see her using multiplication to talk me into giving her more allowance.
Answer by monikkem · Apr 27, 2014 at 10:32 AM
1. That maths will come to them naturally. As a child I hated maths and decided that I would study art. I discovered that I did still need maths in the arts and for everyday life.
2. They can use different methods to calculate complex calculations. They should realise that it isn't a subject to fear and that once the basic are mastered, the can go on to bigger and harder things.
Answer by tbales · May 01, 2014 at 06:44 PM
1. I want my daughter to change the way she thinks about math. I don't want her to think math is "hard", or that it is a subject separate from her other studies. I hope that she can find math broad and interesting, and that she can enjoy solving problems.
2. I hope that my daughter can do better than just memorize multiplication tables. I could see her using multiplication as a tool, or scaffolding, that can help her advance to more interesting and throught-provoking mathematical issues and problems.
Answer by Silina · May 05, 2014 at 02:56 PM
1. To see World as a more complex system then just a set of coincidences. I hope she will learn to recognize patterns in the events, will see the reasons behind them, will learn more concepts of the Universe.
2. Multiplication is a beautiful concept, I hope my daughter will see it around naturally.
Answer by jjuday · May 08, 2014 at 09:38 AM
1. I want my child to enjoy math, and I want him to be able to deal powerfully with what's so in the world. Math is so often a way to do that.
2. We explore the patterns together, and my child has the experience of showing me things he discovers.
Answer by Elena Cook · May 08, 2014 at 01:53 PM
1. I want my children to love math as much as my husband and I do. We try to show them the importance of mathematics in everyday life and hopefully they will be able to appreciate the beauty of numbers and understand the concept behind the natural design. My youngest daughter likes numbers but dislike busy work. I dream that she would understand multiplication and learn the multiplication facts without unnecessary time spent on memorization (she would find it boring).
2. We look for patterns in nature, examine our finds and draw conclusions. Kids love to discover new things.