Useful Links & Cheatsheets

Almost everyone has a favorite subject in school and math is usually not the most popular answer. This is because math holds bold concepts, radical ideas, and intimidating amounts of data to be discovered.

So many people have trouble grasping some of the concepts behind math not because it’s the most difficult subject, but because it hasn’t been explained the right way.

Too many students slip through the cracks because they aren’t given the tools that expose them to the higher concepts of math and ignite their thirst for knowledge concerning the language of the universe. There’s no reason to fret, though, there are plenty of resources out there to help young and old minds develop their mathematic skills.

Introductory Mathematic Concepts

The concepts of basic functions such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division are taught from a very early age and hardly need review past the age of ten. However, it’s never a bad idea to help young minds along.

From the years of two on up to five, young minds are developing very quickly. During these formative years, parents have the opportunity to instill excellent learning skills. Math activities and games can start as early as six months and continue until school age, about five.

A list of early milestones can be found at PBS.com along with several other free resources to give kids a head start on their education.

Premium services such as ABCmouse.com offer more advanced tools that kids can interact with and have lots of fun while they learn basic math skill they can carry with them into kindergarten and first grade. Premium early education tools often continue to age groups as high as twelve.

Websites like MathGameTime.com offer fun learning tools and activities that parents can do with their kids, or that kids can do on their own with approval. Making math fun is a great step towards advancing young minds towards a rewarding future.

Intermediate Maths

Middle school is where most students start to be more challenged. This is the point of a child’s education when they start to learn more about math than basic functions. This is a vital step in their advancement to higher learning. Having access to the right tools can make all the difference in how the student perceives math.

At this point, most students have already memorized their multiplication tables and they fully understand the concepts of addition and subtraction. Allowing access to so called cheat sheets can only enhance their education. Cheat sheets are basic information in a convenient form. They simply allow the student to quickly reference information they already know, but may be too busy to recall all at once.

There are cheat sheets for everything from fractions to Euclidean Formula solutions. Parents can visit sites such as MathConcentration.com for examples of free cheat sheets available for download.

Reference websites can also be powerful tools. Considering most kids carry portable devices already, this is ideal. Sites such MathIsFun.com provide tutorials, examples, and even proof of work for everything from introductory algebra to college level calculus. Best of all, the material is free of charge.

High School Mathematics

If middle school was a challenge, high school is going to be much tougher. This is the part of a student’s education that prepares them for college. Advanced mathematics will be introduced towards the middle of the second year. By the end of the third year, many students will be practicing trigonometry or even calculus. These advanced concepts are only being introduced at this point, but the information can be overwhelming.

If the subject matter is proving to be a little challenging, it may be time to consider a tutor. Many public and private schools offer after hours tutoring in the library and other safe environments. Some students may even be willing to offer help. Premium services are a great option as well.

Private and Online Tutoring

CardinalTutors.com is a premium tutor service with raving reviews. Former and current Stanford students offer their expertise in mathematics as a learning tool for eager young minds. However, this service does come at a premium.

VideoMathTutor.com offers a more affordable service that offer interactive tutorials on video or in written format. Detailed notes on specific subjects can be downloaded and viewed at the student’s leisure. DVD’s and flash cards are also available for purchase.

KhanAcademy.org is a very highly rated tutoring website that offers help with many different subject. There are resources for students, teachers, and parents. There are even prep tests for the MCAT, SAT, and several other tests. Best of all, every resource on the site is free to access, download, and use for anyone.

Most students show a dramatic increase in their mathematic skills after a few weeks with a tutor. Although, not all students need help understanding advanced mathematics. Rather, they need to be challenged more. Thankfully, there are just as many resources available to those who want more than what public education is offering.

Text Books and Educational Materials

High school and college level textbooks are available for purchase directly from the university, from sites such as Amazon.com or BarnesandNoble.com, or can be purchased used on sites such as ValorBooks.com or eBay.com.

OpenCulture.com offers free textbooks of varying subjects in downloadable formats that can be put on devices such as Kindle for later use. Unfortunately, their selection is limited compared to some other sites. Other resources are also available, including links to free online courses and audio books.

People.Math.GATech.edu offers a wealth of advanced textbooks written and offer free by professors at Georgia Tech University. Although the selection is quite limited, the texts are incredibly well written and cover advanced materials that may not be available in most books. It’s worth checking out for math enthusiasts or students looking for a more challenging curriculum.

FreeBookCenter.com is by far the largest collection of texts available online in this list. Every book on their exhaustive list is free to view or download.