Nurturing Number Lovers

Hi,

I just wanted to share something that really lights me up: teaching kids math! Seriously, those little minds are like sponges, and when you show them how fun numbers can be, it's amazing.

I still remember those days before my own kiddos, when I'd gather all the neighborhood kids for math sessions? Even the ones who thought they hated it! Seeing their parents tell me how much they started enjoying math at school after a few sessions with Teacher Mira? Best feeling ever! It's amazing that, even after 10 years and my move, they still remember me as their teacher. 🥰

And until now, I still love helping my nieces, nephews, and any kids who needs a hand, whether it's a quick WhatsApp or Telegram chat or even a Zoom session. I'm always happy to help them out. They know how I work, too. They always come prepared with at least a good attempt. I don't simply give them answers, though. I want them to really get it. So they can tackle any question I throw their way!

A recent example of math conversation with Hydder. My bestfriend's son. He has a lot of potential, so it's important to keep him motivated.

Now that I have my own kids, I want them to see math as a friend, not a foe! It's okay if they don't want to be math whizzes, but I want them to really enjoy learning it. For that, I'll make sure we do little 10-minute practice sessions every day, and a longer hour on weekends to explore new stuff.

Weekend math time with Mom: one hour, non-negotiable. 😎

And when the time is right, I'll introduce them to a fundamental element of mathematics: timetables! As soon as they're comfy with adding and subtracting, we dive into those tables. Kids are memory champs, seriously! The earlier they learn, the easier it gets. Then, when they start school, I try to give them a little head start on topics, so they feel more confident in class. It makes learning so much more fun for them!

I keep it simple in teaching, though. Just good old pen and paper! We do math everywhere – while waiting for food at the restaurant, in the car, even in the kitchen! Math is everywhere, right? Like today, we had kebab for buka puasa, and I showed my girl how fractions work in real life! She was totally fascinated!

We celebrated International Pi Day (March 14th) by getting creative! We made our own 'pie' using kebab, and explored fractions in a delicious way

In short, it's all about making math relatable and fun! If we can show kids how cool numbers are, they'll be lifelong learners. And that's what it's all about, right?