Re: How to save an 8-year-old for lifelong mathphobia?

[Sorry about the previous empty post]


kj wrote:

I have no children, but I do have a whole bunch of nephews and
nieces. To my chagrin, all of them have turned out mathphobic,
with the possible exception of the youngest one, who is 8. (Mind
you, the only reason I still have some hope for him as far as math
goes is based on the uneducated assumption that "mathphobia" is
something that becomes established at a particular developmental
stage. Anyway, I found reading Slate's Emily Yoffe's "The Math
Moron", at http://www.slate.com/id/2152480/?nav=navoa , downright
*depressing*, and would hate see my nephew go the same way.)

Unfortunately, I live a couple of timezones away from my nephew,
and I see him only once or twice a year, which greatly limits what
I can do about all this. His mother (my sister) would like him
not to be mathphobic (as she is) but at this point she is happy if
he gets passable grades. His father is a great guy but, unfortunately,
not only is he mathphobic and totally uninterested in anything that
is remotely academic, he has no problem with the prospect of raising
an equally mathphobic son.

Anyway, bottom line: I rack my brains on how to kindle a love for
math in my nephew...

Any advise would be welcome. In particular, I would like to find
books (or websites) of mathematical puzzles suitable for his age.
I'm looking for stuff that is just difficult enough to challenge
him, but not so difficult that he would quickly regard as beyond
him (he tends to get discouraged quickly when it comes to academic
stuff, which I think may be his dad's legacy).

Also, does anyone know of a good internet forum to post this question
to? I'm a bit leary of going to one of the K-12 forums one can
find online, because I fear that they are populated by the same
misguided minds that have ruined math education in the US. (See,
e.g., the NYT article that Yoffe cites in hers.)


Perhaps the mother can convince the father that they should hire a local tutor to do fun, eductaional math things with your nephew. I have clients with whom I do such things. For example, we go through the book you will find at http://www.activityresources.com/store/product.php?productid=89&cat=0&page=1 ..

I would suggest that one of the parents sit down with the child with this book, but it sounds like neither are inclined to do so. Or perhaps both you and the child can get the book, and you can discuss it over the phone.

There are also some mathematical games. Does Numble (numerical Scrabble) still exist? How about Dr. Nin and Turn-a-Dot? A great game for children is Set: See http://setgame.com/ .


--
Stephen J. Herschkorn sjherschko@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Math Tutor on the Internet and in Central New Jersey and Manhattan

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