Did you know that the ability to read and comprehend could have a huge impact on your child’s success with mathematics. I have over at Writing to be Read discussing this interesting topic. Thank you to Kaye Lynne Booth for hosting me with this post.
Those of you who are familiar with the writing of Enid Blyton, may be familiar with her Enchanted Wood series which features the folk of the Faraway Tree. One of the characters in this delightfully imaginative series is Dame Snap, a strict school mistress, who runs a school for naughty pixies and other fairy folk. I loved this series as a child and was quite astonished by the questions Dame Snap poses to the learners in her class. This is an extract from The Enchanted Wood:
“Jo looked at the questions on the board. He read them out to the others, in great astonishment.
“If you take away three three caterpillars from one bush, how many gooseberries will there be left?”
“Add a pint of milk to a peck of peas and say what will be left over.”
“If a train runs at six miles an hour and has to…
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So true, Robbie! Thank you for mentioning. Michael
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It is a pleasure, Michael. My oldest son who is studying advanced mathematics, is currently struggling with complex word problems.
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Gosh, how can anyone study advanced mathematics? Lol What efforts are given with this. Best wishes to him too. Michael
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Thank you, Michael. Greg is very academic. He is also studying advanced science. I shudder at the thought.
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Some great points you made, on your post, Robbie! Reading and maths are definitely connected!
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Thank you for validating my thoughts here, Ritu.
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So much is linked to reading, in my eyes, Robbie.
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I love my bookworms! We have worked to raise readers from the time they were little.
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So did I, Marci. My time investment has paid off as both my boys read and are very interested in literature and history.
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Loved the post Robbie and left a longer comment on the whole post.. ❤
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Thank you, Sue, I am glad this interested you.
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It did Robbie… 🙂 Have a lovely weekend my friend
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I hadn’t thought of the connection between reading and math. I know that as a child my favorite math was story problems as they were called. Now I see why since I loved to read.
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It is interesting when you think about the connection, isn’t it? I was fine with story sums too, it was algebra that I found quite difficult and I had to have extra lessons to get on top of it.
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Yes. Once it was totally abstract I had to approach everything differently.
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You’re right, Robbie. Mathematics is not just numbers. Kids can do okay with the numbers in the beginning grades, but then they can’t do math if they can’t solve by understanding the text of the math problems.
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Hi Miriam, thank you for adding your experience and thoughts. It does make sense that mathematics is applied in the higher standards and that requires comprehension skills.
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Yes, now the math text books making the problem solving fun for the kids to have story problems as one of the comments indicated. Such as mom had two dollars, she gave one dollar to her daughter, how much money did she have left. Hopefully the story uses the words the kids can read to solve the problem.
The Asian kids are good in doing mental math, but we tell the parents that math is not just numbers.
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My boys also do a lot of story sums at school, Miriam, which is why I know this is so important.
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Sadly, I have no kid to pass on my “legacy”. I have two stepsons. It’s useless to encourage the older one especially since he just started in his teens. The younger one is smart but he’s not that interested in reading, either. He grew up knowing I’m his mom (by that, I mean he knows the truth, but for him, I’m his mom). But during the first years that he was with me (starting from 4 years old), I acted very carefully, trying not to impose on anything. I wish I started reading to him.
He is a fast-learner, but reading is not one of his favorite things. But I WILL still try and make him love it.
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Thank you for reading and joining in the conversation. Teenagers do pull away from reading a bit as they are more interested in socializing and their iphones at that age. Maybe try to encourage them both to read graphic novels. There are very popular with teens and pre-teens.
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The problem with the teen has to do more with our relationship. The pre-tweener (or is 10 already “tweener” age?), he does like my comics collection a bit. He’s not an English-speaker, though, and most of the comics I have are either in English or deemed “not yet for kids” by me. But I’m really considering making a local comics fan out of him.
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It sounds like you are doing well. Your relationship with the older boy may well improve once he is past his troublesome teens. A difficult time for kids.
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I hope you’re right. We started alright, then it changed to not alright — I’m a bit strict (I just don’t look like it here) and he’s hard-headed. Not a good combo.
Thanks, Robbie 🙂
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Really important, Robbie–like the relationship between math and music.
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You are right, Jacqui. Music and maths also have an interesting relationship. Greg was very good at music although he has sadly stopped playing now. He learned to read music before he could read English and it made learning to read a bit difficult for him as it was like learning a second language. Interesting, isn’t it?
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Unsurprising that reading helps with math. Reading seems to help with everything! 🙂 Heading over to finish reading!
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