What is mathematics? There are many definitions floating around, but one could argue that it is a language we use to describe and explain certain aspects of our world. It has its own set of vocabulary and symbols, and we can use these to create sentences and statements. As long as we follow the appropriate “grammar” rules, these sentences will mean the same thing to each person who encounters them — as long as that person knows the language! Math can be learned, in other words, as a second language!
“But I’m just not a math person!” We hear this from students (and their parents) regularly. The purpose of this course is to show students that, by approaching mathematics as a language, we can take some of the fear of out the discipline. In addition to working on vocabulary and structure, topics will include effective note-taking and study habits, problem-solving strategies, tips for combating math anxiety, and other useful mathematics survival skills.
Dr. Janine Haugh, who has a PhD in Applied Mathematics and has used math to study cartilage regeneration, heart disease, and ecological systems, will show students that there is nothing to fear from math, and in fact, it can be applied towards solving many of the problems that we encounter on an everyday basis!
Biltmore Tutoring’s ‘Math as a Second Language’ Courses
Grades 4 – 6
These grades primarily use terms like fractions, decimals, rates, ratios, proportions, and percents, but all these vocabulary words sometimes cloud the fact that they’re essentially the same topic! We’ll clear up some of this confusion, and spend time on other important topics including place value, base ten arithmetic, and geometry.
| CLASS TYPE | DATES | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| MATH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE – GRADES 4-6 | JULY 6-10, 2015 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
Grades 7 – 8
These grades are building a bridge to algebraic thought, emphasizing variable expressions and relationships. We will work on translating between mathematical words and symbols, and understanding proportions and similarity. We will also spend time on important topics from geometry, statistics and probability, and try to fill in any lingering gaps from earlier grades.
| CLASS TYPE | DATES | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| MATH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE – GRADES 7-8 | JULY 13-17, 2015 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
Grades 9-12
At this point, students are starting to branch off onto different math tracks. The backbone of it all, however, is the same mathematical language. We will discuss mathematical modeling using functions, statistics, and geometry. Additionally, we will emphasize proper structure and language, and how to make an airtight mathematical argument.
| CLASS TYPE | DATES | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| MATH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE – GRADES 9-12 | JULY 13-17, 2015 | 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM |
Janine will be showing students, in each course and at each grade level, how mathematical reasoning can be used to tie everything together. These courses will provide a fun and educational background for students who are weak in math, and for students who wish to excel at the next grade level!
The tuition for each class is $295, and this includes the registration fee and all materials. Each class is limited to 12 students, so make sure to reserve a seat for your student today!
Call (828) 505-2495 to register, or click to find out more.