Math Matters!! Get a jump on 2014.

With the New Year here and report cards on the horizon, it’s time to get a jump on 2014.  Here's your math-friendly guide to navigating the new year. 

At Mathnasium, we believe that it's equally important to "math" with your kids just like you read to them. "Mathing" with your kids will keep their skills sharp and foster an understanding of how math enhances their everyday lives. Help make Math fun.  

·         Games, games, games! When it's too cold or snowy to play outside, it's time for some indoor fun. Plan a game night with family and friends (or play one on one with your child) and bring out some math games like Uno, Chess, Checkers, or Mancala. Stumped for ideas? Give me a call or stop by our center to see which games keep our mathletes engaged and excited about math.

·         Making a few dishes for a party or dinner? Or are you simply in the mood for some warm treats on a cold day? From working with volume and units of measure to explaining ratio and proportion by adjusting recipes to feed more or fewer people, cooking or baking with your kids offers many perspectives on how math is used in the real world.

·         When out at those after the holiday sales, work on “mathing.”  Even though kids believe they will never need to make change it is important to know if they get the right change back.  Make a game out of it and have them try to figure it out quickly,  What sort of change will you receive at the cash register. What if the cashier is wrong?

The New Year is an optimal time for a fresh start. Whether your child's math grade is awesome, average, or abysmal, create a learning strategy to get the most out of the last half of the school year—before crunch time and finals come around.

·         Your child's report card grade doesn't show the full picture. Schedule a meeting with your child's math teacher to get a more well-rounded, qualitative perspective on your child's behavior and overall performance in math class.

·         Is your child floundering in math class? Or is he in need of a challenge? Both are valid reasons to seek supplemental help.

·         Make some resolutions. As the holiday hubbub dies down, sit down with your child and set some goals for math and other classes as well as a strategy for accomplishing them. Remember: cramming doesn't work, so kick those bad study habits to the curb and replace them with good ones. Be encouraging, reassuring, and attentive. Make it clear that while you don't expect overnight improvements, you do expect them to do their best.

Amy Brower is the owner and Center Director of the new Mathnasium of Leesburg– The Math Learning Center, located in Leesburg. Year round, the center helps kids get caught up, keep up and get ahead while they develop confidence and a love for math. For more information call 703-669-6284 or consult the web site at www.mathnasium.com/leesburg