Math Proves To Be A Critical Skill

How important is math? Let's see what the experts say.

Eau Claire, WI (PRWEB) January 17, 2007 -- As they ponder their future careers, children may be surprised to learn that mathematical skills and concepts are a part of almost every career opportunity that exists today. Somewhere on the job - whatever that job might be - children are going to use the math skills they learned as early as first or second grade.

"I can not count the number of times a child has asked, 'When will I ever use this stuff?' The answer is everyday and in almost every profession," Kayann Bock, Executive Director. "A child who wants to become a fireman, pilot or veterinarian may be surprised to know how important math is for that profession. Generating excitement for math by relating basic to advanced math skills to real-life uses will help children become more engaged in the subject and develop the confidence and understanding of math that they will need throughout their lives."

Ask a child to stop for a moment and think of the careers that interest them. They don't use math, right? Wrong! Math plays a role in many different professions - from a sportscaster to a politician, from a marine captain to a magician.

Sylvan math experts spoke with professionals around the country who described how math plays an important role in their job. For example, math is important in the daily routine of an anesthesiologist as he cares for a patient prior to, during and after surgery. "Before dispensing any medication, I need to calculate my patient's weight, height and body mass to prevent over or under medicating," said Jeff Coston, D.O., anesthesiologist at Park Memorial Hospital in Asheville, TN. "Once the patient is medicated, I am constantly monitoring his blood pressure, heart rate, breathing and level of consciousness - I see numbers everyday on the job."

See below for additional highlights from those interviews.

To encourage math learning and discovery outside of the classroom, Sylvan Learning Center is offering a Free Online Math Activity Book available at www.educate.com/activities. The book provides 30 days of math writing topics, trivia, questions and puzzles.

Learning feels good™ at Sylvan Learning Center, the leading provider of in-center and live, online tutoring at home to students of all ages and skill levels. With more than 25 years of experience and nearly 1,200 centers located throughout North America including Eau Claire, Sylvan Learning Center has positively changed the lives of over two million students and families. Sylvan's trained and certified teachers provide personalized instruction in reading, writing, mathematics, study skills and test-prep for college entrance and state exams. At Sylvan, students develop the skills to do better in school and the confidence to do better in everything else. For more information regarding the Sylvan Advantage™, call 715-858-1234.

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