Empowering Minds - One Day at a Time

       A few years ago, a good teacher friend of mine posted a link to this article by Brett Berry on her Facebook page. Now, this friend historically has not been a fan of math, but she took some required math courses this summer and came back with an excitement that I had not seen in her before. So, when she posted this article, it became a must read for me.
       You see, when someone comes to us with math concerns, 99% of the time his/her difficulties stem from not being able to connect the numeric algorithm (symbols) with the mathematical concepts the symbols represent. I often hear, “I know what they (the teacher/ textbook) want, but I don’t understand what they are doing on paper.” Or “I get it, but I just don’t get math.” Parents are confused because their child can add and multiply but can’t memorize their math facts.
       Understanding math concepts is really learning about life. Time and experience leave us with lessons that last a lifetime.  This is hard to explain with words on a paper, but easier to show and to conceptualize. Algorithms (2+2 = 4; 4 x 5 = 20) are memorized but cannot be experienced without tying them to LIFE concepts.
That is why student encounter so many story or word problems.  
                              Johnny has two apples  and Sue has two  more.
                             How many apples do they have all together?

       Memorizing facts can produce fast results! And our society likes fast…BUT memorizing does not produce lasting results. Memorize it for the test and forget it. Historically, in our school system we want results fast…therefore, after an introduction to number sense in kindergarten and a little in 1st grade…we begin to memorize. And we have bred a society that largely “doesn’t get math” …because to truly understand math, one must EXPERIENCE it.
         Chances are good that if I asked 10 random people their opinion on algebra, more than half would not have positive things to say. Yet, algebra is life. Have they not experienced life? More likely, they have not experienced MATH enough to tie it to algebraic concepts. Ideally, this would happen at a young age and continue throughout our school years. In the end, the majority of individuals would walk away with not only an understanding of the concepts but also the ability to knowingly put them into use.
        If I gave you a choice of learning through experience that would provide life-lasting results versus learning through memorization which would provide quick but limited long-term results, which would you choose? Which is more cost effective? Which is more time effective in the long run?
        I ask these rhetorical questions to make a point…. concept based learning is at the root of common core math. For those of us who have only experienced algorithmic mathematics…. formulas and memorization…. learning conceptually seems so laborious! But what ethical engineer would be stingy on time and materials when building a foundation in an earthquake-prone area? He would never get insurance…he would be asking for disaster.
        Do we build our educational houses on ROCK or SAND? A LIFE concept is rock and life lasting, while sand is fluid - moving wherever the wind or waters carry it. It takes a little longer at first (and for kids that are introduced at an older age it seems crazy to the outside) but once a solid foundation is laid, algorithms make sense, and math becomes our friend and constant instead something to be feared and avoided.
Thank you to CenterPoint Learning Solutions for sharing the content of this article.

​Christmas break has begun for many of our area school districts, plus we are gearing up for the busiest (and for many the most stressful) time in our family calendars. This means kids (and parents) have just encountered a MAJOR CHANGE of schedule and routine -
Remember, the best defense is a good offense! Be aware and be prepared. Watch for signs of potential meltdowns and do your best to use all your personal tools NOT to join in the emotions. Parents (and grandparents) be prepared to model emotional regulation to help little (and sometimes not so little) children to move through this change and enjoy the holiday!!

When I work with students, we always have the discussion based on, "Why do we read? Who invented written words anyway?"
Everyone remembers playing the child’s game of TELEPHONE – where a group of individuals line up and the first person whispers a message to the next person and the message is subsequently passed down the line. At the end, the last person repeats the message that was shared. Very seldom is the final message the same as the original. THIS IS WHY WE HAVE WRITTEN LANGUAGE.
Human thought is so unique that we want to preserve it...want to share it with others unadulterated and retain originality. The only way to do so is to write it down. Symbols were created to represent the sounds that we speak. Letters are combined to make even more sounds. These combinations when placed on paper represent the REAL THINGS....IDEAS.... THOUGHTS...and EMOTIONS of another individual. It is our responsibility to learn to decipher this code and retain the meaning behind the words."
This explanation helps my students to get excited about the activity of reading that has been elusive to them. After internalizing the tools for FOCUS and correcting misperceptions in the formation and sequence of the alphabet, they are empowered to use these symbols to represent the meaning g behind the written word.
#Davismethods
#dyslexiaawareness
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The following was shared on The Dyslexia Classroom Facebook page.
"This image is a powerful reminder that what you see isn't the whole picture. This is especially true for our students with dyslexia.
"But they are doing so well!"
...[older students] have developed amazing coping skills, are getting good grades, and are considered on grade level...but these successes don't tell the whole story.
While their struggle may not always be visible to us, students with dyslexia often:

• feel insecure in their reading and writing abilities
• feel anxious when asked to read in front of peers
• spend more time completing homework assignments than their peers (what may be considered a 30-minute assignment takes them 1.5 hours to complete)
• are at higher risk for suicide
• don't want to ask for the accommodations they need because they are embarrassed or feel singled out
• have anxiety
• keep it together during the school day and fall apart at home

Children with dyslexia need us to have a deeper understanding of dyslexia and how it impacts their learning AND their social-emotional development."

This TED talk is powerful! I have told many people lately about my concern that more and more of my clients and students are exhibiting struggles due to disorientation. Disorientation is simply when your perceptions tell you one thing and reality is something else. This disorientation that they are experiencing is not caused organically - like dyslexia or ADHD or sensory processing disorders - but it is mimicking the characteristics and the effects (both socially and academically).
My mantra at CenterPoint Learning Solutions and The Tutoring Center is INTENTION - do it with purpose. And the most powerful way to be intentional is to be present.
What Joseph Gordon-Levitt so powerfully shared in his TED talk is synonymous with the presence and focus that my clients develop when they go through a program. They learn how to be IN THE NOW and how to do it at will. It is a very powerful experience that they own and carry on through the rest of their lives.

The Tutoring Center Staff would like to wish you all a very BLESSED EASTER and remind you that we will be closed Thursday - Sunday in observance of the Easter Holiday. 

Want to combat summer slump?  Engage your kids in meaningful, FUN, learning!!   Here at The Tutoring Center we are making plans to provide summer opportunities for our students to grow and develop needed skills! Whether your child needs a refresher or a boost - we have the place to learn!  

• Small group learning pods for elementary students K-2
• All about Multiplication and Division - grades 3-4-5
• All about Fractions - grades 6-8
• Algebra Bootcamp - grades 8+
• continued 1:1 tutoring for students of all ages