Math Conversions - Help for the Home Schooler

In this article I will explain the four simple steps involved in making math conversion problems easier to understand. If you were to ask me how many miles are in 21,120 feet? I can quickly tell you the answer is 4. Because 21,120 feet divided by 5,280 feet equals 4, it is simple arithmetic. Your child may appropriately ask, "Why didn't we multiply. The last time we did conversions we multiplied. And why did we divide by 5,280, because the last time we talked about miles we used 1,760?" As an instructor it is imperative that I am able to sort through the process and explain each step clearly and not just spit out the answer.

So let's get started.

Set up the equation. For consistency always start with the number you are given. In the previous example the equation would be: 21,120 feet =___ miles. Consistency is important especially if you have a child who needs a lot of review because the pattern needs to be established to assist the learning.

Multiply or Divide. When converting from smaller to larger divide; larger to smaller multiply. Memorize these two statements, it will be a great help later.

Find the special number. The special number is the number of smaller units in one of the larger units. I simply use the phrase special number to help the child remember this step. There is really nothing extraordinary or special about it.

Work out the problem. Quite frankly it is just that simple.

Example 1: Felicity walked 21,120 feet. How many miles did she walk?

1. 21,120 feet =___ miles. Start by setting up the equation with the number given.
2. Divide because we are converting from smaller to larger, feet are smaller than miles.
3. 5,280 is the special number because there are 5,280 feet in 1 mile.
4. 21,120 divided by 5,280 = 4 miles.
5. Answer: 21,120 feet = 4 miles.

Example 2: Samantha walked 7,040 yards. How many miles did she walk?

1. 7,040 yards =___ miles
2. Divide because we are converting from yards to miles, or smaller to larger, yards are smaller than miles.
3. 1,760 is the special number because there are 1,760 yards in 1 mile.
4. 7,040 divided by 1,760 yards = 4 miles
5. Answer: 7,040 yards = 4 miles.

Example 3: Elsie's pool is 54 inches tall. How many centimeters tall is her pool?

1. 54 inches =___ centimeters
2. Multiply because we are converting from larger to smaller, inches are larger than centimeters.
3. 2.54 is the special number because there are 2.54 centimeters in 1 inch.
4. 54 x 2.54 = 137.16 cm.
5. Answer: 54 in. = 137.16 cm.

There it is! The four simple steps to help any student of any age through math conversions.

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Home Security: Be Aware of Scouts

On a sunny Saturday afternoon I left my home around noon for about forty minutes. When I returned home a little neighbor girl, who had been riding her bike around the neighborhood, came to me and said a boy, about twelve years old, had been in my garage. She witnessed him enter the garage through the service door and spend a significant amount of time inside. As she told her story I debated with myself, "Am I really going to believe a ten-year old neighbor girl? Is it really that big of a deal? What is in my garage that is of value anyway? It's the middle of the day, and it's just a child, it's really no big deal." Was I right or wrong? I was absolutely wrong.

In this article my primary purpose is to inform you of what is happening in my local community, and very likely all around the country, and how you can protect yourself and your home from property theft.

I ignorantly convinced myself it was no big deal. I later found out it is a big deal and the boy in my garage was a scout, and I do not mean a Boy Scout. Scouting by definition is to search out, follow closely so as to spy upon, or to find by looking around. These scouts are in broad daylight, disguising themselves as regular folks taking a leisurely stroll through the neighborhood. While in reality they are scouting for items of value, and when they find something they can use or sell they return at night in an attempt to steal it. Yes, they are bold enough to walk into your garage, or anything else you have left unlocked.

We cannot prevent a scout from walking or driving by but we can arm ourselves with the knowledge of how to protect ourselves and our valuable possessions. There are very informative internet sites on how to protect your property.

The first practical step we took was to inform our neighbors, don't let them learn about scouting the hard way. Outdoor lighting is also very important, especially motion lights since they offer the element of surprise. Outdoor cameras are very affordable, and easy to install; often just the presence of a camera can deter questionable activity. Lastly, this is not Mayberry so lock your doors, even your garage doors.

My primary purpose in writing this article is to inform you of scouting. It is occurring and we need to be aware of it and begin taking precautions to protect from loss of property.

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Preparing for the SAT Vocabulary

Just the thought of the SAT gives me sweaty palms and butterflies. Adequate preparation is vital not only to achieve an exceptional score but also in easing those apprehensive feelings.

In this article I will show you a free way to improve your understanding of unfamiliar words which in turn will help you to comprehend the vocabulary questions on the SAT.

Do you remember in the movie, The Blind Side, when the private tutor is at the table with Michael Oher, the football player, and he obviously does not understand what is being taught? In an attempt to help him see his potential she very wisely poses a question.

"How big is your head, Michael?"

"Big."

"And what's in there?"

"A brain."

"A brain, it's full of knowledge like a file cabinet with maps and shortcuts for figurin' things out. You'll get there Michael Oher, 'cause I'm here to help you use those maps and reach your destination..."

As an educator she nailed it. This concept I am sharing with you is one of those maps per se.

Here it is. Words are simply prefixes, roots and suffixes put together in that order. Once you learn the word parts you can take them apart and understand just about any word. The beauty of prefixes, suffixes, and roots is that if you do not completely understand a word you can speculate its meaning based on your understanding of that particular word part. Let's look at some examples.

We'll start with the prefix ab-, which means away from. Abjure means to renounce something such as a belief, or to move away from your beliefs. Abduct is to take a person away unlawfully.

Continuing in order here is an example using the root word fort which means strength. Fortify means to strengthen. Forte is a thing that a person does particularly well, a strong point, or a particular strength.

To conclude we have suffixes. Let's look at the suffix -ous, it simply means full of, or characterized by. Humorous obviously means full of humor or characterized by humor.

Do you see the clarity and orderliness of our language? Prefixes, roots and suffixes are simply the parts that make up our words; committing to memory just a few of these will help you further understand the meaning of many different words that will be covered on the SAT. The first step is to memorize the prefixes, roots, and suffixes and secondly look at your lists of vocabulary words. You will be pleasantly surprised at how quickly words, that were previously quite challenging, are now coming alive with meaning. You may even begin to find, as I have, that uncovering or discovering the meaning of words is like an intellectual game.

This exercise does not have to cost a dime, the library or the internet is an excellent source for this free information.

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Learn the Basics of Football and Start Enjoying the Game

Whether you are watching football for entertainment, to be in your man's company, or just to be included in the water cooler conversation, a good understanding of the terms will make the game much more enjoyable.

In this article I will cover the basic terms of football to get you jump-started in your understanding of the game. Because asking questions during the game will not elicit a very thorough answer. For example, "What just happened? I thought kicking the ball through the goal posts was worth one point. How did they get three points?" At that moment you are probably not going to get the answer you are looking for. So let's get started.

On a very basic note, the playing field is one hundred yards in length and is divided in half by the fifty yard line. Every ten yards is marked or labeled in multiples of ten making it easy for the fans to see how far their team has advanced the ball. The areas at each end of the playing field are called the end zones. The goal of the offense, which is the team in possession of the ball, is to get into the end zone with the ball in hand, which is a touchdown. The goal of the defense, the team without the ball, is to guard their end zone and keep the offense out.

The team on offense gets four downs or four chances to move the ball ten yards forward, and if they are unsuccessful the ball goes to the other team.

If they are successful in moving the ball ten yards forward you will hear the referee yell, "First down!" First downs are very good! It simply means the team with possession has just been given another four downs or four chances to move the ball forward another ten yards.

On the other hand, let's say the offensive coach realizes his team is not going to make a first down in their first four tries. They have two alternatives on how to give up possession. Depending on how far they are from the uprights, the big yellow Y's at each end of the field, they can kick a field goal for three points or punt the ball to the other team.

Let's talk a little more about scoring. A touchdown is worth six points. The extra point is earned after a touchdown when the kicker kicks the ball between the uprights; the extra point is worth one point. Most of us already know that, but have you ever seen the offensive team make a touchdown and then on their very next play they run the ball right back into the end zone and get two points for that? My team did exactly that, just as I was beginning to understand the game, and I thought, "What is that all about? Are we making up the rules as we go?" Not exactly, it is called a two point conversion. Most offensive coaches will run that play if they are desperate or if their team is doing very well and appear to be unstoppable.

Timing in a game of football is like a dollar, it is made up of four quarters. Each quarter is fifteen minutes long, and each team is issued three-time outs per half or six for the entire game. If you have watched football for any length of time you have realized that time outs can be strategically used to stop the clock in order to regroup or set up the next play.

Well, there you have it! Those are the basics and it is enough to get you started. Now that you are armed with terms and a general overview start paying close attention and you'll see the "lights coming on" as you watch your next game.

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