Re:Calculus for Seven Year Olds [pdf]
by disgruntledphd2 on Friday June 11, 2021 @11:40AM
(#27474798)
Yeah, there's a bunch of research showing that people learn better with concrete examples of mathematical problems first, rather than the abstract conceptualisations which tend to be more useful to us.
This was in college 15+ years ago, so I don't have any citations unfortunately.
I've found the most extraordinary thing with my kids. If I ask them what is a third of 12, they'll scratch their heads. But if I ask them how they would divide 12 bits of chocolate between them and me, they'll give me an answer immediately.
It even works when there is a remainder.
Just teach fractions and division with chocolate.