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Grandparents! Help Your Grandkids Do Math!


This may come as a surprise.

But despite all the advances in education, many kids stillstruggle in the math class.

Math is an important subject, yet many kids just don't "getit".

Teachers can only devote a limited amount of personalattention to each student.

And parents are so busy with their own work nowadays, theydon't have time to help their children with school work.

That's where YOU, the grandparent, come in!

Grandparents teach their grandchildren through example andplay a role in encouraging them to be successful and setgoals.

Grandparents are naturally forgiving and patient, andchildren sense that.

As a grandparent you can help right from the time yourgrandkids are toddlers, by asking them questions involvingnumbers, and showing them how important math is to ourlives:

- Ask them number-based questions, like: "How many books doyou want to read tonight?"

- Or: "How many miles to grandma's house?"

- Show them basic fractions by dividing groups of jellybeans into halves and quarters.

- Bake cookies together and teach them how to measureingredients.

- Make something in the wood shop and teach them how to usea ruler.

The time you spend with your grandchild is a blessing forboth of you. If you work with your grandchildren and teachthem the simple basics of math, they will develop a naturaltalent for it and move to the head of the class.

It is important to be positive, patient and enthusiastic.You have a whole lifetime of experiences to share with them.You can be there for them if they become discouraged inschool.

Don't be negative about math - be positive and enthusiastic.Your attitude will greatly influence them. You can help themover the bumps by showing them that math is simple if youbreak it down to the basics and build from there.

Show them that math is nothing to fear, but rather somethingto enjoy. Show them how good it feels to solve problems andhow wonderful learning is.

Teach your grandchildren that math is a tool we use everydayfrom working at our jobs, using checkbooks, going to thestore, furnishing our homes, eating in restaurants, planningvacations and converting our currency.

Being a grandparent is one of the miracles of life. There isa natural bond of human affection between grandparent andgrandchild that brings a lifetime of joy and love to youboth.

Spending time with them and really helping them will makeall the difference in the world, and it will make math funfor them, too.

Successful students will remember spending time with theirgrandparents and learning life's lessons.

From precious baby to challenging teenager, they willremember you were there every step of the way.

Kenneth Williams is a math teacher with over 31 yearsteaching experience. He is also author of the popular "FunWith Figures" mental math course, which shows anyone aged 8to 80 the easy way to do impressive mental calculations.Visit the website today for more details at:http://FunWithFigures.com

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