We're Back To School In 2014!

 

If we see our new semester as one long school day, what
better way to begin the "morning" than by tackling the most difficult work first? 

And for most of our kids, that probably means confronting that most challenging yet wonderful of subjects, Mathematics!

No matter what direction our students wish to take as they head toward college and beyond, Math remains a central part of every high school's curriculum. Yet, for many of our kids, it can be a titanic struggle to keep up, let alone excel in their Math exams. Conversely, kids who begin earlier and learn to enjoy the challenge and wonder of Math tend to achieve a consistently higher performance over time. 

This month, we're devoting our back-to-school issue to the joys and wonder of Mathematics! We'll explore the different ways in which this amazing field can be experienced. We'll also offer helpful hints for students looking to improve performance. Just as importantly, we'll give parents some strategies they can employ to get their kids to - believe it or not - make friends with Math!

At Academic Success, we believe that every student has the potential to be productive and passionate about all aspects of their academic agenda. 

 

All the best,

The Academic Success Team

"Mathematics has beauty and romance. It's not a boring place to be, the mathematical world. It's an extraordinary place; it's worth spending time there." 

                                                       -Marcus du Sautoy

As much as we'd love our young children to fall in love with math all by themselves, it has become apparent that parents' attitude to the subject plays a major role. This fantastic Washington Post parenting blog can help to parents gain a head start on their kids' math education.

While we may have suspected for some time that math plays a part in the study of music, studies in recent times are now proving that it also flows the other way. This fascinating Scientific American piece explores the links between the two subjects and how students who study both might be at a distinct advantage.

Last month, we looked at the literacy crisis our country faces. However, what may be going unnoticed is the struggle for numeracy, the mathematical equivalent of literacy. This remarkable Wall St Journal article details the advantages many of the Asian languages have due to the greater clarity and simplicity of their "number names"- and how English speakers can bridge the gap.

Outside of science, there might not be another subject as well suited to the digital age as Math. While parents need to remain vigilant in protecting kids from over-reliance on smartphones, students now have access to incredible digital study aids. This list of apps is perfect for small children, while this one focuses on apps designed to fit the new Common Core curriculum.

A fundamental challenge continuing to face educators is how to enlist more girls and women into math and science. One way to open parents and kids' minds to the possibilities of math is to present exciting role models. Mayim Bialik, three-time Emmy nominated actress of The Big Bang Theory, holds a PhD in Neuroscience from UCLA. In this inspiring article for CNBC, she encourages boys and girls to embrace their "geekdom".