Math Proves to be a Critical Skill, No Matter What Career Children Choose
Free Online Math Activity Booklet, Available at http://www.educate.com/activities , Makes Learning Math Fun

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 – they are going to use the math skills they learned as early as first or second grade.

We can all count the number times we’ve heard a child ask, ‘When will I ever use this stuff?’ The answer is everyday and in almost every profession. 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 jobs. Here’s what various professionals said:

Computer Game Programmer: “I recently used my math skills to figure out how a camera should be placed in the new Law & Order game. The game has several 3D rendered scenes that the player explores to find evidence for their case. I used math to determine how to rig the camera in the middle of the scenes and to control its movement when a player interacts with the game,” said Stephen Hodnicki, lead programmer, Legacy Interactive.

Nurse: “I knew I wanted a career helping people, but I never thought math would fit into that equation because I thought only accountants and analysts used math on the job. Well, that’s not true!” said Jennifer Wilson, nurse practitioner, Johns Hopkins Hospital. “I use math every day to evaluate a safe dosage of medication for each of my patients. It’s crucial that my calculations are precise to provide safe care to my patients.”

Sportscaster: The role of a sportscaster isn’t just commentating on the game. Much of what he does involves tracking players’ performances from game to game during the year and throughout careers. A sportscaster calculates batting averages, earned run averages and other statistics that are basic mathematical foundations learned in elementary school.

Magician: A magician needs math for a variety of tricks and responsibilities on the job. Many tricks involve understanding probability and counting cards. As well, if a magician wants to entertain a room full of people, he needs to calculate how much time he can spend with each person.

Pastry Chef: Professional baking often relies on a variety of weights and measurements. Sometimes recipes are given using the metric system that may require the chef to convert a specific number of grams to ounces. Or perhaps a chef is making desserts for 200 people by following a recipe that serves 12, so multiplication will definitely be needed.

Teacher: “As a former classroom teacher, math was important in every lesson I taught, but also, as the head of the class,” said Richard Bavaria, Ph.D., vice president of education for Sylvan Learning Centre. “In addition to marking papers, calculating test scores and class averages, problem solving was a part of my every day routine. Whether it was calculating the total cost to take my students on a field trip, or simply ensuring enough individual time for all of my students, I used many of the basic math skills I learned back in school.”

Police Officer: To reconstruct traffic accidents, law enforcement officials use mathematical formulas to calculate vehicle speed, time and distance. Policemen must be very precise in their calculations because their findings are often presented in courtrooms to prove driver negligence, award property damages, to help accident victims and to improve highway safety.

To encourage math learning and discovery outside of the classroom, Sylvan Learning Centre 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.

Sylvan Learning Centre is the largest organization of its kind in the industry. Sylvan's trained and certified teachers provide personalized instruction in reading, writing, mathematics, study skills and test-prep. For tips on helping your child develop stronger skills, visit Sylvan Learning Centre’s “Tips for Parents and Students” page on the web at www.educate.com/tips. For more information about Sylvan Learning Centre, phone 1-800-31-SUCCESS.