Math in Motion is not a book about teaching your child how to do math. Instead, it is a book on teaching your child to want to learn math. Jaime Escalante, a Bolivian immigrant and the celebrated math teacher portrayed in the film Stand and Deliver , turned an impoverished predominantly Hispanic East Los Angeles High School into a national math powerhouse. These messages can perpetuate the cycle that math exclusively focuses on mind-numbing routines and mechanical and technical procedures.
Research states one of the primary learning methods for children is imitation.
Children often imitate what they hear and see. In some classrooms children may hear and see negative messages about mathematics. They associate it with worksheets, textbooks, and tests. Many parents and teachers report that they are uncomfortable teaching mathematics and may subconsciously transfer negative messages that influence their children's attitudes towards mathematics. Studies show that parent involvement can help lead to children's success and is one of the ways we can influence their development.