Math isn't just numbers - it's ideas.

Learning Theory teaches us that each person has a dominant learning style and best absorbs new material using this dominant style. But then a student should use familiar material to reinforce weaker syles. IMO this is important in order to be an open-minded thinker.

***Insert Teresa's post here***

I would not use math to tell my granddaughter I love her. Nor would I use words.

PS: Foolestroupe, I may PM you later today or tomorrow. I'm curious about how to help an algebra student I'm tutoring. She can do equation solving, and understands the equation of a line...also has a very good visual ability...but cannot remember her multiplication facts...will get the wrong answer in an equation because she doesnt know 9 times 5. Some of the elementary teachers I work with mentioned some materials which teach these facts by using an associated story and lots of visual and rhyming clues. Is this what you were talking about when you mentioned memory tricks?