Math Motivators for You and Your Child

The Importance of Learning Math

Math is everywhere. It's used all the time, everyday in our personal and professional lives. We use math to budget our money and time, balance our check books, shop for groceries and other important items, file our taxes, and to calculate tips in restaurants. Keep these practical applications in mind when preparing math lessons for your child and integrate these skills into your math lesson plans. This will break up the usual mundane math lessons and show in a tangible way how much of daily life relies upon solid math skills. Knowing how they benefit from math lessons will help to motivate your child to keep with their studies.

Real World Math Experiences

Taking a break from everyday lessons is another way to keep both you and your student interested in math. Schedule workplace tours for your child to see corporations and businesses that use mathematics in their work. Evaluate the list of mathematical based professions below and see if your child is interested in any of these careers. Having them visit and see math at work will show them (and you) that their math lessons are truly valuable. The following are math-based professions:

• Agriculturalist: Animal science, crop science, etc.
• Architecture
• Businessperson: Accountant, economist, financial analyst, market researcher
• Engineering: Aeronautical, aerospace, biochemical, civil, computer, mechanical, etc.
• Medicine: Nurse, pharmacist, physician, etc.
• Psychology
• Sciences: Astronomer, biologist, chemist, geologist, physicist, etc.
• Statistician
• Teacher: Elementary, middle school, high school, college

It's hard to find a profession that does not use math in one way or another! Sitting down with your child and listing the careers they are interested in, then relating each profession to math can be an eye-opening experience.