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From Curiosity to Confidence: Building a Stronger Math Foundation with Creative, Hands-On Learning
Creative, hands-on math activities foster growth mindset, number sense, and problem-solving in children. Programs like Math Music Motion and Growing Little Minds personalize learning, boosting confidence and engagement.
The Growing IQ Team
Sep 54 min read
Beyond the Steps: Recognizing When a Child Follows a Procedure Without Understanding the Concept
Recognize when children follow math steps without understanding by checking their explanations and flexibility. Use hands-on, growth mindset, and multisensory approaches to build true conceptual math skills.
The Growing IQ Team
Sep 45 min read
From Hands-On to Minds-On: How Creative Learning Deepens Growth in Math and Literacy
Hands-on, multisensory learning in math and literacy fosters deep understanding, critical thinking, and growth mindset. Personalized, experiential activities boost confidence, fill gaps, and integrate skills for real-world success.
The Growing IQ Team
Aug 294 min read
Does Your Child Need a New Math Entry Point? 9 Signs and Smart Next Steps
This guide highlights 9 signs your child may need a new math approach, emphasizing growth mindset, diagnostic assessments, early numeracy, personalized learning, and creative methods like Math Music Motion to boost confidence and engagement.
The Growing IQ Team
Aug 283 min read
Why Hands-On Learning Sparks Deep Understanding in Math and Literacy
Hands-on learning uses tactile, creative, and movement-based activities to deepen understanding in math and literacy, foster a growth mindset, close learning gaps, and build curiosity and confidence.
The Growing IQ Team
Aug 225 min read
Hands First, Worksheets Later: How Children Build True Math Understanding
Hands-on, kinesthetic math learning builds strong number sense, reduces anxiety, and fosters a growth mindset. Integrating math with literacy enhances problem-solving for well-rounded STEM education.
The Growing IQ Team
Aug 74 min read
Hands-On, Minds-On: How Tactile Learning Deepens Math and Literacy
Hands-on learning deepens math and literacy understanding by engaging senses, fostering critical thinking, reducing anxiety, promoting growth mindset, and integrating multisensory, personalized, and experiential strategies.
The Growing IQ Team
Jul 253 min read
Is Your Child Ready for the Next Math Skill? 10 Signs to Strengthen the Foundation First
Identify signs of math struggles early—hesitation, guessing, frustration—to strengthen number sense and build a strong foundation with personalized, hands-on learning and a growth mindset for success.
The Growing IQ Team
Jul 244 min read
From Clay to Concepts: Why Creative, Hands-On Learning Builds Lasting Understanding in Math and Literacy
Creative, hands-on, multi-sensory, and project-based learning builds lasting math and literacy understanding, fosters growth mindset, personalizes education, integrates subjects, and reduces anxiety.
The Growing IQ Team
Jul 184 min read
In Their Hands, In Their Minds: How Hands-On Math and Literacy Build Deep Understanding
Hands-on math and literacy learning boosts deep understanding, engagement, and retention by connecting concepts to tactile, kinesthetic activities. Personalized, inquiry-based approaches foster growth mindsets, problem-solving, and creativity.
The Growing IQ Team
Jul 134 min read
Pause, Build, Thrive: How to Tell If Your Child Needs a Stronger Math Foundation
Identify early math struggles like guessing or frustration to pause and strengthen foundational skills. Use hands-on activities, growth mindset, and personalized plans to build confidence and lasting understanding.
The Growing IQ Team
Jun 294 min read
Is It Time to Pause and Build? How to Tell Your Child Needs a Stronger Math Foundation
Identify early math struggles by checking number sense and comprehension. Use hands-on activities, growth mindset, and personalized plans to build a strong foundation and boost confidence.
The Growing IQ Team
Jun 222 min read
Hands-On Math, Real Understanding: Building Brains, Not Just Answers
Hands-on math builds deep understanding, confidence, and critical thinking through manipulatives, kinesthetic learning, and creative methods. Personalized, engaging approaches foster growth mindsets and close learning gaps.
The Growing IQ Team
Jun 155 min read
Camp-Ready Confidence: A Quick Checklist for Families
This checklist helps families build camp-ready confidence by fostering a growth mindset, managing anxiety, enhancing social-emotional and academic skills, and offering practical prep for a successful, enriching summer camp experience.
The Growing IQ Team
Jun 74 min read
Is Your Child Ready for a Personalized Math Path? 12 Clear Signs
Signs your child is ready for personalized math include early interest, confidence, and critical thinking. Tailored paths foster growth mindset, hands-on learning, and integrated skills for success.
The Growing IQ Team
May 174 min read
What Is a Growth Mindset in Math and Why It Matters for Young Learners
A growth mindset in math helps children view challenges as opportunities, boosting confidence, problem-solving, and critical thinking by valuing effort over rote memorization. Parents and teachers can support this through hands-on activities and positive reinforcement.
The Growing IQ Team
May 143 min read
Public vs. Private Schools in Hawaii: A Parent’s Guide to Strengths, Gaps, and Growth-Mindset Solutions
This guide compares Hawaii's public and private schools, highlighting strengths and gaps in math and literacy. It promotes growth-mindset, hands-on programs like Growing IQ to enhance learning and readiness.
The Growing IQ Team
May 73 min read
Beyond Memorization: Building Lasting Math Confidence in Kids
Build lasting math confidence in kids by fostering a growth mindset, using hands-on, creative activities, integrating literacy, addressing learning gaps, and providing personalized support across ages.
The Growing IQ Team
Apr 262 min read
From Steps to Sense: Help Your Child Think Mathematically with a Growth Mindset
Encourage your child’s math growth mindset by focusing on understanding over memorization, boosting confidence, fostering metacognition, using hands-on activities, visual models, and promoting math discourse for deeper problem-solving skills.
The Growing IQ Team
Apr 193 min read
From Memorization to Mastery: Why Concept-Based Math Builds Lasting Confidence
Concept-based math boosts kids' confidence by fostering deep understanding, hands-on learning, critical thinking, and personalized support, transforming math anxiety into lasting mastery and problem-solving skills.
The Growing IQ Team
Apr 64 min read
Meet the Author
Eileen Lai Horng is a former elementary school teacher and holds a Ph.D. in Education from the University of California Los Angeles. She used to be interested in the process of learning, particularly for young children, until she had children of her own. Then she became extremely interested - borderline obsessed - with understanding the learning process. Because of her background, she is often the “go to” resource for family and friends wanting advice regarding educational choices for their children. This blog provides an opportunity for her to share some of her experience and musings with others.
Growing IQ does not focus on math concepts per se; learning math concepts is a positive by-product but not the purpose of instruction. Rather the focus is on how to reason, problem solve through experimentation, and apply past learning to new situations.
Eileen Horng
Ph.D. in Education, UCLA
Former Associate Director for the Institute for Research on Education Policy and Practice at Stanford University
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