What's wrong with the traditional drill computation? From tutoring point of view, there is nothing wrong to give them to children for practice on fluency and grasp of basics. However, there is something wrong form children's point of view that is they are boring, dull and not fun. Why do children feel that way? Well, the time has changed but the format of traditional computation worksheets has not caught up with the pace of the society. The future belongs to a generation who understands how to process information and the information might include digits, bytes, numbers, graphics, images, languages, symbols, equations etc. Children today might chat with others on the internet while downloading or uploading files and viewing movie clips at the same time. Multi-tasking and the multi-way of processing information seem to have come as a second nature to children, but is our computation format reflecting the way that children are living today? Certainly not, this is one reason why children feel so bored and lost interest to continue to work on the same "old" style of computation worksheets.
These simple monotonic basic number facts computation worksheets are no longer reflecting the real world which the young generation is facing today or will be living in the future. The computing world children are facing today is much like a rich tapestry, where diversified fabrics and colours are integrated. Children today are absorbing not just numbers but an array of information like image, sound, music, symbols, spatial information, or even abstract ideas all bundled together and delivered through many types of media. Children today are not happy just working on pure number drill without any other stimulus or motivator. After realizing the importance of having fun while learning, Ho Math Chess has been embarked on an important teaching philosophy that is to integrate chess and puzzles into math worksheets so that children can learn math while having fun.
Ho Math Chess has created a series of special printable workbooks to have a synergetic effect by integrating or converging arithmetic basic number facts, chess, mazes, and information processing all in one worksheet.
This is accomplished through Ho Math Chess own trademarked proprietary technologies such as Symbolic Chess Language (SCL), Frankho Puzzle, Frankho Maze, and the Ho Math Chess training set.
With this invention of math, chess, and puzzles integrated worksheets, a child is acting as a data warehouse manager and sorts, matches, or classifies data in an information environment which simulates a cell phone screen using an incredible variety of learning concepts namely chess, symbols, spatial relation, logic, comparison, tables, patterns, mazes, computing etc. by networking all kinds of information together. The learning process is much like to search information using the internet. Only when children have successfully followed instructions using SCL and, as a result, created a question themselves, can a solution be found at last.
Ho Math Chess workbook is a multi-function workbook, it trains children not only their basic computing ability but also trains them to be an astute data warehouse manager or an excellent data miner by developing their problem-solving ability and critical thinking skills.
About the Author: Frank Ho is a Canadian professional math teacher and the founder of Ho Math Chess Tutor Franchise Centre based in Canada. He has bachelor's degrees in Statistics and Computer Science and also a Master's degree in Statistics. He worked as a Statistical Consultant both at the University of Utah, USA and the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada for almost 20 years before he founded the Vancouver Ho Math Chess in Canada. Ho Math Chess Tutor Franchise Centre has a unique teaching methodology and invented world first innovative math workbook which integrates math, Sudoku, and chess. Frank Ho also invented the flat chess set using Geometry Chess Symbols which are the core technology of creating so many innovative and fun arithmetic workbooks.
Amanda Ho has a bachelor's degree in Science with over 10 years of tutoring math experience from kindergarten to grade 12 in Canada. She has co-authored over 30 math, Sudoku, chess and IQ puzzles integrated workbooks.
