Mathematics is the science of structure, and relation evolved from the elemental practices of counting, measuring, and describing the shapes. Mathematics is in our life right from our birth date and the time from which the horoscope is made in the Hindu culture. but many of us have a phobia of maths right from childhood and find it difficult to comprehend mathematical expressions. Basically learning by rote is a root cause of the same.
We need mathematics – in our day-to-day life. Waking up in the morning at a particular time includes knowledge of numbers and measurement of time. Setting up the timetable in the Schoolbag includes knowledge of ordinal numbers, cardinal numbers, and chronological order. Through packing of tiffin boxes and water bottles – the concept of the half and full quarter can be taught. We as parents and teachers need to relate or connect to the real-life experiences for students to do away with the fear of the subject.
Similarly, to master the knowledge of currency notes and coins, one can easily send a child to the market with larger value notes and ask them to buy something from the market. It would be like an adventure for the child. In this, the child will develop the skills of addition and subtraction as well. Hands-on experience will always have a longer impact rather than classroom teaching. Parents need to believe and trust their children and give them opportunities to explore.
The additional learning of a life skill comes as a complimentary benefit. Children can confidently converse with outsiders. The basic fear of going into the unknown is killed at a very tender age. So when they grow up they can face an interview too with confidence, where
most the youngsters fail. Nowadays we have become very protective towards the children with our own insecurities and are depriving them to explore. Thus mathematics can build up life skills of –
- Time Management – Setting up routines, prioritizing tasks as per availability of time, discipline, and punctuality.
- Budgeting – By giving a certain amount of pocket money, the students will develop the skill of Budgeting.
- Applicability in professional courses- Skills like carpentry, cooking, engineering, software languages – knowledge of mathematics is a must. Mathematics prepares the base of all these professional courses.
Thus parents and teachers have a pivotal role in developing interest in the subject by relating the subject to everyday life and allowing the tender minds to surf more on their own. There are many instances to relate our daily life experiences with maths.
For instance, children in the age group 5 to 7 years, can be taken to the garden and asked to find out different shapes in the play equipment, count the number of boys and girls around, and so on. For the age group 8 to 10 yrs., they have the basic knowledge of the operation of mathematical expressions, so in the same garden place, we can ask them to total the number of boys and girls around, the difference between the number, multiplication quizzes and so on. At home the kids can be taken to the kitchen and concepts of measurements of the half, quarter and 3 quarters can be introduced. A similar experience can be given in the mall while purchasing groceries. Concepts of Cost price, Sale price, Profit, and Percentage can be introduced while going to the mall. At School in art periods knowledge of shapes, and drawing from numbers can be taught to make friendships with numbers. In the Physical education period the concept of distance can be taught through running rounds on the Ground.
Thus making the subject application based on real-life experiences will remove the fear about the particular subject and they shall be loving it as.
MATH EXISTS THROUGHOUT HUMAN LIVES!
Mrs. Shanti P. Chareja
Headmistress
AISSMS
Shri Shivaji Preparatory Military Primary Day School, Pune -01.
