Mathematics - an Everyday Adventure

Equipped for the Future: The Importance of Math Skills for Navigating the Modern World In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2021 riots and 2022 floods education for students both in KZN and globally has been significantly disrupted, and Mathematics has been one of the major “casualties” of these disruptions. There have been a number of reasons for this:

• Students, teachers and parents have had to adapt to online and hybrid teaching – sometimes for extended periods of time.

• Lack of face-to-face interaction between teachers and students made it difficult for students to ask questions and clarify doubts, resulting in a decline in mathematical skills.

• Not all students had consistent access to technology for online learning, further impacting their ability to learn math.

• Many students had little or no online teaching during this time and now face major developmental deficits.

• Supervising students from home has not always been possible since parents were still working.

However, despite the challenges, some positive developments have arisen. Globally, teachers have been forced to adopt new teaching methods and adapt to new technologies, which has led to innovation and renewed thinking in mathematics education.

Mathematics is essential for many areas of study and has real-world applications. These disruptions have highlighted the importance of data analysis, statistics, and mathematical modelling, all of which are critical skills in understanding and addressing global challenges.

10 Tips for helping your child develop mathematical awareness and confidence.

1. If mathematics was hard for you at school, try not to let your experience frame theirs – be positive and encourage them that their brains grow as they grapple with hard concepts.

2. Encourage your child to explore and ask questions about the world around them, including mathematical concepts such as measurement, patterns, and shapes.

3. Use real-life examples, such as shopping and cooking, to illustrate math concepts.

4. Provide hands-on activities, such as building with blocks or measuring ingredients for a recipe.

5. Play games that require mathematical thinking, such as board games, card games, and strategy games.

6. Introduce them to math challenges, such as puzzles and brain teasers.

7. Encourage them to make connections between math and other subjects, such as science, art, and social studies.

8. Help them understand the practical applications of math, such as budgeting, mapping, and problem-solving.

9. Encourage a growth mindset by praising effort and perseverance, rather than just results.

10. Foster a love of learning by making math fun and engaging, and by showing them the beauty and power of mathematical reasoning.