Kids struggle with work when they don’t understand how it applies to them in their real life. Giving students who struggle with math more and more problems won’t necessarily help them understand how they translate into what they do every day.
While simple math can easily show real-world examples to a curious student, algebra can be much harder to translate into reality at the time it is being introduced. As a result, you may find yourself challenged on how you can explain maneuvering symbols into a practical and applicable medium.
Today, we’ll take a look at some of the ways in which algebra benefits kids, both now and in the future.
Mastering algebra early is not just essential, but very fulfilling for students learning the material. Algebra encourages problem-solving skills, and students can carry over the basics used in foundational algebra into various other mathematical situations.
In addition, algebra skills are correlated with logical reasoning skills. Algebra helps students develop mentally and helps teach them the skills needed to tackle more complex questions, not just in mathematics. Algebra allows students to fine-tune their cognitive skills and ability to reason.
It’s not just about finding an imaginary number. Algebra is a way for students to take a basic approach to logical problem solving and build up critical skills they need going forward in their educational journeys. Even students who do not desire to pursue mathematics have something to gain from learning and practicing algebra daily.
Algebra is needed in quite a few areas of life. Even thinking critically about relationships between numbers, algebra helps students gain critical problem-solving skills.
Algebra can help solve problems relating to profit margins and debts. Explaining fundamental ways that students can use algebra in their dream jobs when they grow up may help them appreciate what they’re being taught and take a more positive approach to the course material.
Keep reading for a few ways that algebra can be found in the real world, in various capacities.
Algebra is needed, at least in a fundamental sense, in countless job fields. For example, scientific industries like biological and chemical studies require heavy use of algebra. Even someone working as a seamstress would need to apply a bit of algebra (and geometry) here and there.
If your students struggle to feel a need for mathematics in their daily lives, provide them with real-world examples. It may even benefit students to see people in careers they want to explore, telling them how algebra is used in their jobs. For instance, you could ask an architect how algebra is used to obtain correct proportions or how an artist uses math to explain distance in a drawing.
Basic mathematical knowledge in algebra is crucial for a student to be ready for work and is a great avenue to help motivate students to feel some passion for algebra.
While students may not be consciously doing math in their heads when they throw a wad of paper into the trash can, their brains use fundamental algebraic theories when they go for a three-pointer.
Explain to your students that even when they are making split second decisions in the heat of a game, their brains are thinking about trajectory and force when taking that shot. Then, turn it into a game where they have to critically think about their impulses when tossing their trash into the trash can and explain how their actions translate directly into math.
For students who maybe don’t know what they want to do with their futures, turning algebra into something more like a game can be a great way to motivate them into making connections and finding a passion for understanding the subject.
There’s nothing students love more than food. When it comes to an understanding of how algebra is used in daily applications, a great visual to use is the idea of cooking. Converting Celsius to Fahrenheit requires algebra. Doubling a recipe can require some algebra. Figuring out how long a turkey needs to cook in an oven based on its weight?
You guessed it — algebra.
Encouraging students to physically make something using measuring cups and an actual recipe can help them understand the relationship between their daily math lessons and something they see and take for granted every day.
Plus, the students get a tasty treat at the end of the day. Cookie dough is a great way to encourage students to mess around with numbers and make a bit of a mess, too.
At De Alba Math Center, we think math is already pretty exciting. But your students don’t have to take our word for it. Our foldables and electronic math STAAR-aligned resources have been designed to keep students engaged and learning while still having fun.
Our workbooks are easily accessible online and fully compatible with Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, and they offer electronic annotation for both teachers and students. We also offer fun and engaging printables for hands-on learning opportunities that are TEKS-standard and STAAR-aligned.
Bring the fun back into your math classroom. Contact us today to find out more about how we can help you make math exciting for your students.
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