Apparently, high school teachers were telling the truth: someday you will need math in your life.
New research has found that some students may benefit more from being taught the concepts behind math problems as opposed to given the exact procedures to solve the problems.
Assistant professor Bethany Rittle-Johnson, from Vanderbilt University, led the research that may now offer new insights to teachers and parents interested in improving a child’s math comprehension.
"Teaching children the basic concept behind math problems was more useful than teaching children a procedure for solving the problems – these children gave better explanations and learned more," Rittle-Johnson said. "This adds to a growing body of research illustrating the importance of teaching children concepts as well as having them practice solving problems."
Through this method, Rittle-Johnson added, children may be able to understand how problems work, which could be an important life lesson for the future.
Also, helping with your child’s homework on a regular basis can turn into a father-child bonding experience that will have emotional benefits as well.
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