Tips for Improving Your Creative Problem Solving Abilities

One can become a great problem solver by solving problems. You must get into the fighting ring if you choose to fight. Stay away from the hot stove if you do not want to get burned. Try these tips for a much better you at problem solving.

Tip one. Learn to spend time alone. Do not be afraid to do some self-talk every chance that you get. You are not crazy, but you do need feedback of some kind. If you still want company then record what you say to yourself. It saves much time and energy when you record yourself.

Tip two. Read more. Read especially more vivid and highly colorful authors. Authors that expressed themselves in great details. Check out mystery novels and ones with much suspense. Of course, watch the very best you can find in futuristic movies. You have to stimulate your mind. Check out the times that you are most vulnerable to learning and highly susceptible. Get more stuff into your mind. Read at 25,000wpm. That will put enough information inside you. Then that information needs to get out. Select a specialty in order to be special. You need to learn the game and then get into the game in order to play it well.

Tip three. Dream more. Take cat naps during the day or whenever you get the chance. Many of the great ones took cat naps, but remember, they worked around the clock. No cat naps at work please.

Tip four. Relax more and let things happen to you. Many have used super vitamins to enable them to remember more or to do better. Be safe. Be careful with that approach.

Tip five. Try to ask yourself questions daily. Ask questions especially at bedtime and upon awakening in the morning. We are unique super beings. Do not overload yourself at night with too many questions before bed. Questioning is a powerful key to solving any problem. Let the grand old Intelligence fight your battles and wars for you.

Tip six. One approach that is dear to my heart is mind mapping. It is the old brainstorming technique greatly enhanced.

Tip seven. Find out your preferred learning style. With that knowledge you will be able to focus on the problem you need solving in a more dynamic way.

Tip eight. Actively work on a variety of puzzles. They should include word puzzles, picture puzzles, math problematic puzzles.

Tip nine. If you choose to become a master at problem solving then, you must get into the history and business of problem solving  maths and go over the steps and journals of the great ones. Read the biographies of the great ones throughout history. Study what made them great. Better yourself by learning memory techniques and approaches. Never stop learning and growing. Learn to draw well and learn an instrument if you can. Become well rounded as possible.

Tip ten. Learn self-hypnosis and take yourself to much lower levels of mind, so that you can better approach problems at a much profound state of awareness. You may also want to seek subliminal recordings to help you reach deeper levels.

Seven Ways to Prepare Your Child for Kindergarten

Sending your child to Kindergarten is an exciting time, but it can also be stressful. You want your child to succeed in school and also be happy. Here are some tips to make it an easy transition for both parent and child.

1. Point out letters in signs, books, and other objects

When your child begins to recognize letters in their world they will understand that letters are used to relay information. They will also become excited about learning to read. When you child finds a letter also teach them the letter sound associated with it.

2. Sing the alphabet together

Almost everyone is familiar with the alphabet song. Your child will love the catchy tune and it will be his/her first introduction to the letter names and also the alphabetical order. There are many different variations of the song available, but your child will probably enjoy the sound of your voice just as well.

3. Count objects and sing counting songs together. Also read books about counting numbers.

Learning math is best in real life situations. Whenever possible find objects for your child to count. This will also help them learn the number names, order, and how math is useful.

4. Visit the library and ask the librarian about books that are appropriate for your child

Many libraries have leveled books. Your library can help you find stories perfect for pre- kindergarten readers. The library might also have story time or other reading programs that young children will enjoy.

5. Find books to teach your child about their emotions and appropriate behavior

While at the library also ask your librarian for books about behavior and manners. Practice the advice in the books at home and also set up opportunities for your child to play with other children.

6. Praise your child to develop self esteem

Positive reinforcement builds a child's confidence. This will motivate students to try their best at school. It can also encourage appropriate behavior.

7. Read stories and talk to your child about them.

These simple tips can make a child feel more comfortable in the classroom and also prepare them for Kindergarten Maths.

Preschool Math - What Your Preschooler Should Know

Are you wondering how to teach preschool math? In order to be ready for kindergarten, your child needs to know how to recognize colors and shapes, count to 10, identify numbers 0 through 10, complete simple patterns, group objects by shape and color, and use mathematical language like short/long, big/little and heavy/light.

Here are three ways you can teach your children everything they need to know to get ready for kindergarten:

1. Let your child help you with everyday chores and errands. Have your child match socks from the clean clothes basket, place a certain number of items in the grocery cart, set the table and pass our cookies. As you go about your daily activities, give your child an opportunity to help you count, estimate, weigh and measure. Your child is not only learning essential preschool maths skills, she is developing good social skills by learning to be a good helper.

2. Add math games and activities to your daily routine. Simple games like Candyland, Dominoes, Chutes and Ladders, Hi Ho Cheerio, Bingo and Hopscotch are great for practicing math skills. Games make learning fun for children by removing the pressure that comes from formal lessons and workbooks. Set aside 15-20 minutes per day to reinforce math concepts through play.

3. Read books about math. Children's books can be a great way to teach basic math skills. Look for books that encourage your child to identify objects by shape or color, or count a certain number of objects. Seek and Find books are a great resource for preschoolers because they not only encourage counting, they help children improve their visual discrimination skills.

You don't need a math degree to homeschool preschool. Just look for learning opportunities in your everyday activities, and remember to relax and have fun!

Easter Math Is Fun Math

Easter is an exciting time for kids. But the good thing is that you can use that excitement to help kids develop their math skills. Turning regular math into Easter math makes math much, much more exciting. You can use Easter math games or Easter Brain Teasers and the kids will beg you for more. 

Below are some simple ways that you use Easter math in the classroom or at home

Bunny Hop

Here is a simple Easter math game that is maths is fun you can use to practice any basic math skill. You start by selecting a start line and a finish line. Next two children compete to jump from the start to the finish by taking two bunny hops every time they answer a question correctly. You can use any questions that help kids to practice the skill that you want. For example you could ask ‘6 times 8', ‘half of 34' or ‘What is the number before 87'? The first child to answer correctly takes two jumps and the first one to reach the finish line is the winner. 

Easter Counting

You may know the old favorite counting game Buzz. But did you know that you can easily turn this into an Easter math game by replacing the word ‘Buzz' with an Easter word. Try using ‘Bunny' or ‘Easter Egg' instead. The kids sit in a circle and count around a circle but replace the number 7, each multiple of 7 and every number containing a 7 digit with the word ‘Bunny'. If a child says the number instead of saying ‘Bunny' they are out.

This is a tricky game that requires concentration and a good knowledge of multiples. You can also try playing it with other digits instead of 7. For example, you could use 5 or 10 for an easier version or use 8 or 9 to make a more challenging version.

Easter Brain Teasers

Brain teasers are a great way to get kids thinking math. Many number problems can also be made a lot more interesting by using Easter as a theme for the problem. Here are a few that you can start with. 

The Easter Bunny has 15 Easter Eggs in a Basket. He gives our 3 then collects 7 more then gives 6 children 2 eggs each. How many eggs in the basket now?

You can easily change the numbers in this one and then have a completely new problem to present.

Tom has been dyeing eggs. He used green and red dye. If he has dyed 17 eggs and he has 5 more red eggs than green eggs. How many eggs does he have of each color?

How many eggs did I find in the Egg Hunt? I found between 10 and 30. The number is divisible by 4 but not by 7 or 8. I found an even number of eggs.

There are many different ways to use Easter math get kids adding, multiplying, comparing and using other math skills. You'll find that kids will definitely agree that Easter makes math load more fun. 

Advantages of Primary School Maths for Students

These days, maths has become one of those subject that everyone can be seen to be going for since it not only allows individuals to acquire enhanced learning but it also is the best way for them to have a bright future. While the subject may be dull and sometimes quite technical, it still must be studied at all costs as it truly has a wide range of many benefits to offer in both the short as well as the long run. Primary school maths has been labeled as the best way for children to actually have a bright future later on. Studying the subject at primary school level has a lot of advantages, all of which are unique in their own way.

New Subject to Learn
One prominent reason for giving a lot of attention to primary school maths is the fact that it enables students to have a good introduction towards the subject. This is due to the fact that at this point, only the basics of the subject are covered, which are quite fun to learn and study on a day to day basis. Since the subject is not as difficult at this stage, students can actually develop a lot of fondness for it right from the very beginning. This tends to help them in the process of opting for the subject when they reach high school and later on, within universities.

Enhanced Knowledge of the Subject
Studying mathematics right from the beginning, which is in primary school and before that too, is the best way for students to know all there is about mathematical concepts. This is what maths is based upon and in order to do well in the subject, it is highly important for them to see how these concepts work and what they are all about. Primary school maths tends to lay out all mathematical concepts as well as theories and everything as such in brief detail, which is enough for students to be able to understand the extensive part of the subject later on in their lives.

Enhanced Reasoning Power
Students get to learn many things by studying maths at primary school level. One of these exclusive things includes enhanced logic and reasoning skills. The subject is known to be an immensely practical one, which is why it is given so much importance in the first place. Students can use their knowledge of the subject in order to enhance their understanding of logic and also go on to improve their reasoning skills which eventually will help them in a lot of situations throughout their lives in the future.

High End Career Options
On the other hand, learning maths at this stage allows students to be aware of all that the subject has to offer in the short and the long run, most importantly. In the future, mathematics is the kind of subject that has various career options and that means more choice and ultimately success for an individual. Hence, studying the subject from such a level is something that enables students to see all that the subject has to offer. It is through this subject that children can realize that they have a shot at a bright future that allows them to enter fields related to maths, IT as well as science for that matter.

Primary School Maths – The Conclusion
For all that it has to offer, studying mathematics at primary school level is definitely worth it, especially when it has so many short term and long term advantages to offer. Teachers should give students special attention while teaching this subject as it can be complex at times and parents must see to the fact that their children can learn the subject and everything related to it right from the beginning as it will definitely be worth it later on.

Teaching Kindergarten And Preschool Math - Algebra Before Arithmetic

I hated Algebra with a passion. The truth is I hated Math with a passion. The term 'equation' threw me into a cold sweat. As soon as the Math teacher entered the room my brain made a quick exit stage left. To my shame I can honestly say I don't think I 'heard' a word she said for three years.

I realised that if I was to achieve my ambition to become a primary/elementary teacher this was an issue that I needed to address as a matter of urgency. The sad truth is that I was not the only student in this predicament, far from it. We actually formed a club!

Why is it that Math is one of the most reviled subjects on any school curriculum?

My journey of self discovery and enlightenment took me back to my very first schooldays. This, I believe is where the problem starts and the biggest mistake we can make is to introduce children to formal arithmetic too soon. I am not talking about rhymes and 'counting' activities but the fact we assume children understand the nature of number when it is in fact an abstract concept that cannot be understood in isolation.

For example, if I asked you to fetch me 'one' your obvious response would be 'one what?' That is why early counting activities are always related to objects or things e.g. one duck... two ducks... three ducks...etc' This is fine up to a point but too much dependence on this approach can lead to children adding up on their fingers as they get older.

To avoid this common failing children need to be able to understand the concept of cardinal number. Using cuisenaire rods this concept is acquired naturally and incidentally through the medium of play.

The Power Of Math Manipulatives.

Using manipulatives like Cuisenaire Rods can ensure that very young children are able to understand mathematical concepts we often consider far too advanced for the level of development of preschool and kindergarten children. This is achieved through the physical properties of the rods. Each rod being a different length and color lends itself to an approach that Caleb Gattegno describes as 'algebra before arithmetic'.

The First Step - ColorNames

Give each rod a color name. Traditionally the rods are white, red, light green, pink, yellow, dark green, black, tan, blue and orange.

There is a practical reason why the 'brown' rod is named tan.

The Next Step - Initial Letter Names

Once the child has used the rods and is comfortable with the color names it is time to introduce the initial letter names. These are: w, r, g, p, y, d (dark green), b, t, B (Uppercase initial because blue is longer than black) o.

Children now have the basic vocabulary to be able to convert simple patterns made with the rods into mathematical sentences (equations) that will become increasingly more complex as the signs are gradually introduced..

Signs are introduced as a substitute for common terms and phrases that can be used naturally as you play with your child. The most useful phrases being; end to end, train, pattern, side by side, big, small, above, below, long, short.

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Teaching Basics With Math Games in Kindergarten

 Kindergarten is an exciting time for kids. It's the first time they get to feel like the older kids, going to school and learning exciting topics. The basics that are introduced in kindergarten include math and reading. There are a variety of ways to teach these concepts that enable kindergartners to get a firm grasp of these lifelong skills. Math games in kindergarten are one of the best ways to help children learn new concepts and understand how to carry them into real-life situations.

Counting

Counting might seem as if it is simple to teach, but it is more than memorizing the order of the numbers. In kindergarten, kids learn counting by twos, fives and tens, as well as more complex counting techniques, such as sequencing and ordinal numbers. When teachers use math games in kindergarten, it gives the students a new way to look at the various topics. Skip counting can be visualized with groups of beans, blocks or toys. Kids can also play visual games online that allow them to see the objects and learn to count them through visual stimulation.

Currency

Counting might seem as if it is simple to teach, but it is more than memorizing the order of the numbers. In kindergarten, kids learn counting by twos, fives and tens, as well as more complex counting techniques, such as sequencing and ordinal numbers. When teachers use math games in kindergarten, it gives the students a new way to look at the various topics. Skip counting can be visualized with groups of beans, blocks or toys. Kids can also play visual games online that allow them to see the objects and learn to count them through visual stimulation.

Telling Time

Another basic concept that offers lifelong skills is telling time. Kindergartners get excited at the notion of being able to read a clock until it is time to actually learn it. Many teachers use visuals, such as clocks made out of paper plates with revolving hands, to begin to teach time telling, but even more techniques are needed to truly embed the information in a child's brain. Enabling children to play time telling games online enables them to visualize the concept of a clock in a fun and engaging way, helping them learn the concept much faster.

Math games in kindergarten are a great way to introduce important math skills to young students in a fun way. Math is one of those subjects many students learn to detest, which is why starting your kids off on the right foot is important to their success.

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