WALTHAM, Mass., (PRNewswire-FirstCall)– A survey of middle school teachers nationwide conducted for Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) reveals that most teachers (67 percent) rank math as the single most
difficult subject for students to re-engage in when returning to the classroom.
In addition, most teachers (50.4 percent) polled say students’ math skills regress most, compared to other subjects, during summer break. That percentage is more than double the second place finisher — language arts (20.7 percent). Students’ math regression and back-to-school struggles force math teachers to spend weeks reviewing and re-teaching math from previous years, they say.
But math teachers offered solutions via the survey, as well: Almost seven in 10 (68 percent) say that parents are the key to helping students get back to math faster. Also, two-thirds of math teachers say that if middle schoolers spend 15 minutes to an hour a week — which is as little as two minutes a day — thinking about math, their math skills would be sharper as they re-immerse in their school routine.
“No matter if a middle schooler is already in school or heading back in the coming days, focusing on math skills now — outside the classroom — will help students ease back into math,” said Dr. Anne Collins, a mathematician with 20 years teaching experience. “By incorporating math into every day activities, parents can help kids sharpen their skills without the stigma of school work or homework assignments.”
The survey’s final question asked teachers for their best advice to help parents. Raytheon commissioned Collins, a member of the Massachusetts Mathematics Educators Hall of Fame, to synthesize the open-ended responses into simple tips for parents(1). They include:
— Fuel for thought: No one likes a backseat driver, but challenge your children to calculate the amount of fuel your car uses, or the highest sum of digits in license plates.
— Double down: Whether baking brownies or mixing a pitcher of lemonade, have your children double or half the recipe and determine the right amount of ingredients.
— Go from “bored” to board game: Board games can empower your children to practice basic math skills. If a game calls for a banker or score keeper, nominate a child for the role.
— Track the trek: Give your children an odometer for their bikes and have them record the number of miles pedaled during the day.
— Shop till you drop: While at the mall, practice fractions with your children by asking them to calculate prices as if they were saving 10 percent, 25 percent or 40 percent of the price.
To also help students get “Back 2 Math,” Raytheon, along with Collins and some of the country’s leading math teachers, has developed new interactive tools to help jumpstart interest in math during the final days of summer and the first few critical weeks of the school year. Designed to appeal to sixth to eighth graders, the tools are available on the MathMovesU website ( http://www.mathmovesu.com ).