Math is an important skill. You don’t have to be a mathematician to need it. It’s important when you’re buying something at the store or even baking something in the kitchen.
Unfortunately, it can also be a difficult subject to learn—especially as you progress in school and the curriculum gets more complex.
[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]There are ways you can improve your math abilities. If it’s not your favourite subject, don’t despair.[/pullquote]
1. Try not to use a calculator. Rely on your own abilities to solve simple addition, subtraction and multiplication problems. Whether you’re figuring out how much to tip at a restaurant or calculating how much change to get back when you buy ice cream, try to do the math in your head.
This will give your brain the exercise it needs to figure out math problems more easily and on a routine basis. Try not to turn to a calculator unless you’re really stuck.
2. Study smarter. Turn off all distractions. That includes your phone, music and the TV. Take some time to concentrate. And do it at a time that’s best for you—not when you’re tired, angry or sick. Make sure to take good notes in class.
When you’re studying, take the time to review your notes. Do a little bit at a time and take breaks. Eventually you’ll get all your work done well and on schedule.
3. Speak to your parents. If you’re frustrated with math or your grades are slipping, speak to your parents. Maybe they can speak to your teacher about some potential interventions that can help you succeed.
Maybe you need more time to do your homework or complete tests. Maybe there’s a math specialist at your school that has time to help. Or maybe making your parents aware will ensure they take time to help you with your work Either way, speaking openly with your parents is a great first step to succeeding in math.
4. Hire a tutor. Once you’ve spoken to your parents, they might suggest this option themselves. This is a great way to get help with homework during the school year, and to keep up with your math abilities during the summer when your brain tends to want to shut off. Rather than fall behind, stay on top of your math work.
There are so many tutoring options that can help you succeed. Do you want a tutor that comes to your house? Do you want to work in a group setting at a tutoring centre? Think about your goals, needs, budget and preferences and do some research. Find an option that suits your needs. Then stick with your tutor no matter the time of year.
5. Go online. There are lots of math apps that help make math fun. These online tools are interactive and easy to use. You can even pick your age, level and the type of math you’d like to practice.
Whether you like word problems, fractions or calculus, there’s an app for that. Go online and search for the highest-rated apps. Speak to your teacher for his or her recommendations. There are lots of options out there. Once you’ve found a program you like, spend even a few minutes a day playing math games online. Even your friends will want to play.
6. Get a job. Whether you work at a retail store, a bakery or restaurant, any of these jobs will have you doing math in your head in no time. These jobs require you to make quick calculations on the fly. Even if you begin slowly and feel rusty, it will quickly start to feel second nature.
Practice makes perfect and that’s the same for math. Why not take on a part-time job or summer job that puts you in a position to practice math while earning money, too.
7. Don’t give up. You might be frustrated at times. It might be hard. You might even want to drop math altogether and never look at a number again. Unfortunately, this isn’t practical or realistic as you will need math every day of your life.
[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]With focus, persistence and determination, you will get better and math will start to come more easily. If you quit, you’ll never find out how much easier it can become.[/pullquote]
Crestwood Echo October 20th, 2017
Posted In: Community, Education, Parenting, Technology
Tags: academic integrity, cpclearns, crestwood, crestwood preparatory college, crestwoodprep, eduction, get a job, math, math help, mathmatics, study, tutor
The key to succeeding in university is being organized. It’s important, especially when you’re living on your own for the first time, to stay on top of things. You won’t have anyone reminding you to wake up and get to class on time. You’ll have to remember where you put your keys. And since you’ll likely be living in a smaller space than you’re used to, you’ll want to make sure you have all the essentials—and that they are in their proper place.
If you don’t know where to begin, here are a few tips to help you get started:
Have an agenda. Whether you have a physical book or use your online calendar, get in the habit of using it every day. It’s a great tool to help you remember everything from deadlines to birthdays to appointments. If you’re using your online calendar, be sure to schedule reminders that pop up in advance so you’re never surprised or late when you have something important to remember. You can take this one step further by writing yourself notes on a notepad or sticky tabs. This is a great way to keep a grocery list so you don’t waste time making several trips to the grocery store when one would do.
Set your alarm. If you have to get up at a certain time on a certain day, using your smartphone to set an alarm is a helpful way to make sure you’re awake on time. It’s a simple thing to do, but easy to forget. Once you have your school schedule, set your alarm right away so it goes off when you need it most.
Organize your room. Do you need storage boxes? Closet organizers? File folders? Hooks to hang things on the back of your door instead of tossing them on the floor? Go to a store that has items to help you make sense of your new space. This can include an office supply store, Ikea, or a store that specializes in home organization. Speak to your friends and parents to see if they have any tips for items that may be especially useful or practical. Have fun with it and buy the colours and decor items that make you feel comfortable and happy in your new space.
[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Take a few minutes at the end of each day to tidy your room and desk.[/pullquote]
Get a backpack. It’s important to be organized on the go as well. Choose a backpack that is sturdy, durable and feels comfortable on your shoulders when it’s loaded with books. Does it have a special compartment for your laptop? A place to put a water bottle or gym shoes? Look around and find one that is practical for your needs. You will be using it a lot on campus.
Get all the supplies you need. Do you have a printer that works? What about extra paper and ink? Are all your cords untangled and organized so you can keep your phone and laptop charged? You’ll need a few other desktop essentials. This can include notebooks, lined paper, binders, a stapler, pens, pencils, highlighter, whiteout, a three-hole punch, garbage can and bulletin board with tacks. Often these products are on sale during the summer, so shop wisely and make sure you have everything you need to get your year off to a good start.
Colour code your work. It’s often helpful to colour code binders or file folders. That way you can visually see what notebook to put in your bag on what day. It’s a great way to easily keep all your work for a particular subject in the right place. Once you’re organized, don’t be lazy. Make sure you’re using this system to its full potential.
Tidy up. Take a few minutes at the end of each day to tidy your room and desk. It feels great to wake up to a clean, organized room. It’s an automatic fresh start to a new day. You’ll be happy that you took the time to do this.
Have fun. School is also about socializing, exploring different interests and trying new things. It’s great to be organized and on top of things, but don’t forget to enjoy yourself. In addition to being great for your mental and physical health, taking a break can offer some much-needed stress relief from the your new everyday routine.
Echo Editor October 12th, 2017
Posted In: Community, Education, Parenting, Technology
Tags: academic integrity, College, cpclearns, crestwood, crestwood preparatory college, crestwoodprep, eduction, improve performance, organize, private school in toronto, university
You might be the kind of person who breaks into a cold sweat when you have to deal with money. The subject can definitely make people anxious. But as you grow up, it’s important to know how to manage your money and how to make it grow. That’s right: it might be time to start thinking about investing your money.
So how do you begin if you’re a beginner?
First, you’ve got to have money to invest. Do you have a part-time job? Have you been saving money in a bank account? If not, it’s never too late to start. Think about what you can do to earn money and start saving up to invest part of whatever you earn.
In the meantime, you can try investing with fantasy money. Create a virtual trading account and make real stock market trades with the equivalent of Monopoly money. Start buying and selling stocks you like. See whether it goes up or down. Make some trades or hold onto your stock. Experiment and have fun. In the process, you’ll learn about the stock market first hand before you actually invest your own money.
Join the Economics Club at school. This is a great way to learn about investing. Often there are even stock market competitions. You’ll be able to work individually or as a group under the wing of your economics teacher. If there isn’t a club, enroll in an economics class in school. You’ll learn so much in a semester and be prepared to understand the stock market and the basics of how to invest. You might even be inspired to start your own economics club with your classmates.
This might also be a great time to start reading books about investing or doing some research on your own. You don’t even have to start with a text book. There are biographies on some of the biggest success stories and the biggest scams to hit Wall Street. There are also classic books about investing, like The Wealthy Barber and Liar’s Poker by Michael Lewis. While you’re at it, why not have a movie night and catch up on films about investing. There’s always a lesson learned from watching classics like Boiler Room, The Wolf of Wall Street and Wall Street. There are also lots of documentaries that are entertaining, informative and educational.
When you’re ready to invest your money, make an appointment at the bank. [pullquote align=”left” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Talk to an investment advisor[/pullquote]
about your options. How much would you like to invest? What would you like to save? What are your long-term goals? How much risk are you willing to take? Your advisor will go over the options and help you pick an investment opportunity that matches your comfort level. Bring a parent or advisor along so they can understand your goals and see how you’re managing your money. If they have experience in this area, they will be an asset as you start to invest.
You don’t have to be a day trader, constantly buying and selling stocks, to invest. Some stocks are safer bets than others, especially if you’re willing let your money grow long-term. Your investment advisor or parent will probably tell you all about this strategy. You might even want to consider an index fund, which means you’re investing in several stocks that are pegged to increase over time. It’s less risky and more of a sure bet, but if you really want to try your hand at the market, this might not be the opportunity you’re looking for.
Have you considered using an app that helps pick and trade stocks for you? Go to the app store and download a “robo” investing app. These automated investments make trades for you based on your goals. Follow along on your smartphone and see how you do. These apps also require low minimum purchases, so this is a great way to start investing some of your money.
[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Remember, there will always be dips in the stock market, so hang in there and don’t rush to sell at the first sign of trouble. Traders who do that often lose money over time.[/pullquote]
Investing money can be fun. Learning how to manage yours is an critical life skill as you get older and earn a salary. You’re never too young to show an interest in investing.
Crestwood Echo October 10th, 2017
Posted In: Education, Parenting, Technology, Uncategorised
Tags: academic integrity, cpclearns, crestwood preparatory college, crestwoodprep, improve performance, investment app, private school in toronto, robo, students, studying
