The debate over the causes and answers for Canada’s dwindling math skills, prompted a local math competencies research specialist to provide his feedback on why our nation’s math problem is so hard to solve.
Daniel Ansari, a psychologist from the Western University in London, and the Canada Research Chair in developmental cognitive neuroscience, reported that difficulties with math begin as early as the years children spend in Ontario’s full-day kindergarten program. Simple skills, like matching the numeral five to five buttons or balls, are a good indicator of future math performance.
Statistics show Canada’s performance in math is still ahead of some countries, such as Germany and the United States, but is increasingly lagging behind many East Asian countries. Representatives from across Canada, including Ontario’s Premier Kathleen Wynne, have called for action, sparking a debate over how to ensure our future success.
Traditional methods of teaching, using math drills and practice sheets produced by printing services, are preferred by most parents’ groups, who would like to see a more tried and true approach.
However, educators promote a more creative discovery based method of learning math, where children learn different concepts over time.
Ansari suggests that kids need both approaches, but that drills and printed practice pages are not utilized enough in schools and homes today.
He also points out that our genes play a factor in our success in math, as well as the structure of our education system. In many Asian countries, math specialists are used in elementary schools, whereas Canada uses teachers educated to teach across all subjects.
