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9 · Wednesday, March 3, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com Making math add up Math basics are a fundamental part of our everyday life. While a student may not ever need to calculate the distance to the planet Jupiter, knowing simple multiplication tables and other math basics are skills that nobody should ever be without. It is alarming to realize that a high percentage of high school students don't know how to complete a long division question and that only a small percentage of elementary students know their multiplication facts by heart. "In School, math basics are taught sequentially, building one new concept on the previous," says Nicole Sutton of Oxford Learning Oakville South. "If one basic concept is not understood, then trying to learn a new concept becomes very difficult. Our current curriculum moves so quickly that students never truly get a chance to master the skills required for success." If students do not know the basic skills, they often have difficulty with fractions and decimals; if students don't know fractions and decimals, they'll struggle with algebra. Each new math concept builds on the concept that came previously. Without a solid understanding, acquiring new math skills becomes very difficult. The long term results are that students all the way up to university could struggle with math concepts if a strong foundation is not developed early. According to a University professor in Toronto, fifty per cent of first year university math students will flunk out because they do not possess the necessary basic math skills. Using a calculator isn't the solution either; calculators do not help students develop better math understanding--it only helps them get the right answer! To properly understand math, a student needs to get back to basics. The sooner that a student masters the basics of math and develops real understanding, the easier that math becomes, and the more successful they are in the later academic years. Often the only way to fill-in math skills gaps is to re-learn fundamental math concepts and re-build basic math knowledge. Oxford Learning's math curriculum helps students of all ages and skill levels build a solid foundation of math understanding and improve their study skills. For more information on how students can improve their math basics and study skills, contact Nicole Sutton at Oxford Learning, Oakville South, 905-849-4027, Laurine Klym at Oxford Learning Oakville North, or Saly Beshara at Oxford Learning Oakville North East, 905-257-1207. Appleby College March 15 to 19 · June 28 to August 23 Appleby College's March Break and Summer Camps offer girls and boys ages 4 to 16 opportunities for discovery, excitement, friendship and, above all else, fun! Options include: Arts Camps Dance, Theatre, Visual Arts, Percussion and Passport to the Arts. Scooter's® March Break Specials: 2010 Monday, March 15 Tuesday, March 16 Wednesday, March 17 Thursday, March 18 Friday, March 19 1-5pm 6-9pm 1-5 pm 1-5pm 6-9pm 1-5pm 1-5pm Family All Ages Family All Ages Family All Ages Family All Ages Family All Ages Family All Ages Family All Ages $7.50+rentals $7.50+rentals $7.50+rentals $7.50+rentals $7.50+rentals $7.50+rentals $7.50+rentals scooters Discovery Camps For 4-7 year olds; Sports, Arts and Camp Discovery. Sports Academies Basketball, Exploring the Sports, Golf, My Fitness, Soccer, Tennis and Try Triathlon. Experience Camps Adventure Pursuits, Camp Millionaire, Wealth Rules, Outrigger Canoe and Robotics. WE ARE ALSO OPEN FOR ALL OUR REGULAR SESSIONS. CALL FOR INFO. 905-823-4001 Scooter's®Roller Palace 2105 Royal Windsor Dr., Mississauga (just west of Southdown Rd.) www.scooters.on.ca To learn more about our programs and to register, visit www.appleby.on.ca