Don't worry, there are
many different ways to improve your math skills, and usually it's
just a matter of finding the best way to think about and practice a
new skill or math concept.
Try some of these approaches:
Practice with
drill sheets (like times table practice
sheets) and flash cards,
tackle plenty of word
problems,
try out a math game or
two (there are many made for the computer),
and ask your
parents and teachers for help finding real
life activities and situations that help you
practice your math skills.
You might even find
you're one of those people who remembers
your math facts better if it's put to
music, or if you can make a model or drawing
of the problem you're working on.
Remember, if you just
can't get a new math skill now, give it time!
You will find that when you're a little older
the same math stuff that used to totally confuse
you can suddenly make sense.
The reason for this is
that, just as your body is still growing and
developing, so is your brain! It's a
proven fact that it's just easier to make sense
of multiplication when you're 12 or 13 years old
than when you are 8 or 9 years old. This
has to do with developing the ability to think
about abstract concepts.
So be patient, and whatever you do, just
don't give up. And never -- EVER -- tell
yourself, "I'm just not good at math."
Just remember that it may take a little time
and finding the right way of looking at the
concept that's giving you trouble. In
time you'll be amazed that it ever seemed so
hard to you.
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Even if
you don't become a scientist or mathematician, you will need to know
basic math
in order to check over your grocery bill, plan your
Christmas shopping, balance your check book, figure out a reasonable
allowance for your kids, make decisions about car repairs, and do
your yearly taxes.
Math can also come in handy when you have to:
Fill
out forms and job applications,
Figure out
how much medicine to
take,
Decide how to
enlarge a
favorite recipe when you have extra guests coming over for dinner.
Even figuring out what size and shape furniture to buy for your
living room (and which door to bring it in through) requires a kind
of math.
And none of this even begins to
consider what kind of math you might some day need for your
job or to operate new-fangled inventions that we haven't
even heard of yet.
In short, the best way to prepare for your life
ahead is to master basic math skills and to at least familiarize
yourself with some of the more advanced mathematical concepts out
there. But don't worry -- you can take it a step at a time,
and experiment with different ways of remembering facts and working
out problems.
Check out the books and links below, and please
let us know
if you have a favorite book, website, or other math
help that we haven't mentioned here.
Table of Metric
Equivalents
The fact that 1 inch =
2.54 centimeters
is only the beginning. Check in here to see how our usual
"English" measurements stack up to their metric equivalents.
Thinking games
and Jigsaw Puzzles. Practice your arithmetic with their
Number
Monster and the
Timernator. Be sure to surf the
Cool Math
site for more math learning fun.
Game Aquarium's
huge collection of fun and interactive games covers a broad range of
math from subtraction, fractions, and place value...to algebra and
geometry!
A fun way to
practice you drills for adding, subtracting, and multiplying. Just
use your rocket ship to blow up the planet with the correct answer.
From A+ Math
Includes an
overview explaining which math curriculum areas each game works.
Some like
Add 'Em Up really work obvious math skills. While others
teach math skills while kids think they're just playing.
Equation Solutions from QuickMath.com
type in an equation and Quick Math's (totally free) online software will
crank out the answer. As featured in 300 Incredible Things To
Learn On The Internet.
Glossary of Math Terms & Concepts
Not sure what an "array" is? How about the
"common multiple"? All these and many more terms are neatly
defined, illustrated, and explained. Glossary is divided into
grade level appropriate segments, making it a handy resource for
students and parents alike. Presented by Harcourt School
Publishers.
This site explains what integers and how to add,
subtract, multiply and etc. with an awareness of number lines and
positive and negative numbers. Also explains integer coordinates,
which are useful for plotting graphs in algebra and other areas of math
and science.
For practice with integers, check out these
worksheets.
Long Division
Resources
A selection of great links to help your figure out, and master, long
division. You'll find printable worksheets, explanations, and
online interactive practice programs.
Math
Dictionary for Kids
Another great place to unlock the truth about various math concepts and
terms. Nice interactive illustrations.
This Webby award winning site bills
itself as the web's most extensive mathematics resource site, but it's
use seems limited -- as an online encyclopedia aimed primarily at the
advanced math student. However if you are a hardcore "math geek",
you will enjoy surfing it's flashy layout and graphics.
100+ worksheets for a variety of ages and
skill levels. Includes graphing, money, arithmetic, averages,
measuring, and more. Some holiday worksheets as well.
These worksheets encourage mathematical
reasoning in addition to addition, subtraction, counting by 10s and
more. From the Center for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching.
From the same folks who brought
you Handwriting for Kids. Offers printable sheets for
multiplication, division, addition, & subtraction practice, plus online
worksheets (fill in the answers online, then click the button to have
your work instantly corrected).
This site also features practice
sheets and tutorials for learning to write the numbers neatly
(penmanship). An
overview sheet is provided, plus pages for each individual number
between
zero and ten (including how to correctly write the word for that
number), plus an
animated tutorial. There is even a set of printable (blank)
lined sheets -- so your child has the correct type of practice paper for
his/her level of penmanship practice.
Hint: If your child has been
complaining that they don't know their "threes" or their "fours"
(meaning they haven't memorized the part of the times tables that
involves that number multiplied by all the other numbers, then
this will be of great help as you drill them on their "math facts".
This is the spot for
printable sheets to drill on your "eights" or whatever other part of the
table needs practice. Sheets available with and without answers.
Format allows you to cut them up into mini flash cards. Be sure to
also check out their
games and other
activities to help learn and teach the multiplication facts.
Coloring sheets for the numbers
from one to ten. Each features the numerical and word
representation of the number, along with items to count (eight circles,
three squares, etc.)
In short, the best way to prepare for your life
ahead is to master basic math skills and to at least familiarize
yourself with some of the more advanced mathematical concepts out
there. But don't worry -- you can take it a step at a time,
and experiment with different ways of remembering facts and working
out problems. 
