MATH TIPS

1. Do all of the homework. Don’t ever think of homework as a choice. It’s the most important way to practice and master the concepts taught in class. Set up a regular time and place that make doing the homework feel automatic.

2. Analyze and understand every mistake. It’s important to fix mistakes and understand why they were made; otherwise we’re doomed to repeat them. Take time to figure out the thinking behind a mistake, and figure out how to do it right.

3. Get help fast. If you find that something is difficult, you should seek as much help as possible as quickly as possible.

4. Don’t swallow your questions. Questions are the vehicle by which we learn. If you have one, ask it. Chances are that other classmates have the same question. Asking good questions is a lifelong skill, and school is a safe place to practice.

5. Basic skills are essential. Quick: what’s 9 times 7? To be successful, students must be able to answer this correctly in their sleep. The multiplication tables are the basis for most middle school math problems. If you don’t know them, practice! Make flash cards, buy a computer program, and practice, practice, practice.

6. Understand what the calculator is doing. It’s not enough to know how to use the calculator; you need to know what the answer means.