STUDYING MATHEMATICS
Children learn to count by using objects, in the school room they count the desks, the children, the number of cards, or blocks. The first lessons are object-lessons dealing with objects which can be handled and formed into groups. Digits are symbols which represent objects, 7+3=10, is an abbreviated form for 7 (Apples) and 3 (Apples) are 10 (Apples).
It is easier to teach addition and subtraction by the use of the objects to add and to take away from. The realization of the process comes by seeing the objects and the result of the change. The digits become symbols for the objects that the child has been working with. Counting boards are helpful in teaching children, for they enable you to continue the visual process. All methods of teaching through the visual processes should be continued as long as possible.
The child's interest in the problem will be stimulated if he deals with objects, or things, and not with meaningless groups of figures. The problem 127+323+417= , is a meaningless one and uninteresting, but if you encourage him to think that this is the number of soldiers with which a general is going out to meet an army of two thousand, then he has some interest in finding out how many men the general really has to meet the two thousand with. This makes the problem read thus, in his mind.
127 (soldiers) + 323 (soldiers) + 417 (soldiers) = How large an army?
Figuring a page of problems will be uninteresting, but if you can encourage the child to introduce the imaginary objects, it will increase his interest.
Fractions are usually explained by the division of an apple or some easily divided object. Division, as a process of dividing a group of objects among a smaller group of children, is easily understood and interesting to them. Encourage your child to continue to think of the objects when dealing with fractions.