I got to use my major!!

Today I got to use my major!!!  After doing math homework with Alyvia, I told her she needed to practice her multiplication tables.  She counteracted with a drawing of how she did not have enough shelf space in her brain to hold all of them.  Oh no she didn't!  She can not pull that one over on her mother who knows a lot about how the brain works.  I said, look Alyvia, I agree with you.  Your brain does not have enough shelf space for your multiplication tables right now, but your brain grows when you practice.  "What?"  she says.  "You mean some parts of my brain are bigger than others?"  That's weird."  This is where I actually got to use my major.  I proceeded to draw Her a picture of her brain.

It looked something like this. (ok, sort of like this, I tried!  I'm not an artist!)   I told her that her brain didn't get huge on one side a tiny on the other, but that the little folds are full on Neurons.  

Then I drew a bunch of these neurons.  

 I asked her what she did all the time.  She, of course, said drawing and writing.  I told her that in the drawing, writing part of her brain, these neurons connected to each other.  Not just once, but multiple times.  Making a multi-lane highway between all of them.  So when she needs to learn something new about drawing or writing, all of those new "cars" of information fly through her neurons because there are so many roads for them to travel on.  

But then, I asked her what she didn't spend a lot of time doing... she said multiplication tables.  Yes! the answer I wanted to hear. :)  I told her that because she didn't do them very much, her neurons only had one road going between them, so when she needs to learn more multiplication tables it goes slowly because all the "cars" get backed up because there is only 1 road for them to go down.  

I then told her it was ok if it seems hard right now.  But, if she keeps doing them, those neuron connections will increase until she has a multi-lane highway in the math part of her brain.  I also told her that she didn't have to guess the answers to learn them, but could just look at the problems and answers, or read them, or have someone read to her.  Just listening is also learning.  Any exposure will increase those connections.  

She totally got it and went over to the iPad, and did the multiplication app over and over again.  

Then I told Berkeley the same thing.  He totally got it!  Not only did he want to read more, but he wanted to learn the multiplication tables too!  

Now I know the 4 years of hard work at BYU was not wasted! :)  Ok, actually, I hope I get more out of it than that, but it was very fulfilling.  Even though I am a stay at home mom, I am so glad I got my degree and I know that no amount of education you acquire is ever in vain.