What questions do you hear the most when teaching your child? "Why do I have to learn this?" is probably is in your list. The common answer would be "you will need it for your job later in life." Younger kids may heed your answer and keep studying. Older kids may hit you with another question, like "when was the last time you were using it in your job?" The truth is that you don't use much of the information you were taught in high school. You probably never used the quadratic formula after graduating!
Why does the curriculum still push students to learn the algebra even though most people will never use it later in life?
To answer this question, we need to know that the pursuit of knowledge and education is a lifelong journey that requires dedication, focus, and hard work. This is especially true with the rapid rise of AI. As students progress through their learning in more abstract and advanced subjects such as Algebra and Physics, they will encounter a variety of challenges and obstacles that may impact their learning and confidence. It is essential for students to develop confidence in themselves and their abilities while studying these subjects.
When students feel confident, they are more willing to take risks, make mistakes, and persist in the face of challenges, which are all skills that will be needed for their future career. Confidence allows students to believe in themselves and their abilities, which in turn creates a positive feedback loop that enhances their learning and performance. As such, confidence can be seen as the ultimate learning goal, as it is the key to unlocking students' full potential and enabling them to achieve their goals.
There are several ways in which parents can help students develop confidence in their abilities.
Be Supportive
First, it is important to create a safe and supportive learning environment that encourages students to take risks and explore new ideas. This involves providing positive feedback and reinforcement, setting achievable goals, and recognizing and celebrating students' successes.
Personalized Learning Experience
It is important to provide students with the tools and strategies they need to succeed. When the child is not doing as well as expected to in school, we need first to ask ourselves if our child is placed in the most suitable learning path, instead of blaming it on the kid being lazy. Knowing that the school curriculum is based on "one size fits all" teaching style, it is likely that we need to supplement school learning with a more personalized learning at home approach. Parents can start with online learning resources (for math, you can read ""Online Math Resource for Parent"). If the improvement isn't going as you expected, you can consult with professional tutoring service providers for more help.
Growth Mindset
Finally, it is important to help students develop a growth mindset, which involves viewing challenges and setbacks as opportunities for learning and growth. By teaching students to embrace failure as part of the learning process and to focus on their strengths and potential, educators and parents can help students develop a sense of resilience and determination that will serve them well in all areas of life.
While the pursuit of knowledge and education is a noble goal in and of itself, the ultimate learning goal should be confidence. Confidence is the key to unlocking students' full potential and empowering them to achieve their goals. By creating safe and supportive learning environments, providing students with the tools and strategies they need to succeed, and helping them develop a growth mindset, educators and parents can help students develop the confidence they need to succeed in school and in life.
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