Engineer Helps Kids Put 2 and 2 Together

A retired engineer has written a supplemental curriculum that teaches mathematics in a way that enables children to use their own words to become comfortable with its principles and concepts.

Many children get hung up on the terminology involved in math, said Sandor Vandor of Ventura. His program helps students get over that fear by encouraging them to describe math concepts in their own words.

They also count shapes out loud and to do calculations in their heads.

“I’m trying to translate the math language into everyday language--at least in the student’s mind,” he said. “The students gain self-confidence, because we can talk about algebraic expressions even before they know what the number six is.”

Vandor’s Math Exercises are being used by several elementary schools in the Ventura Unified School District.

The curriculum, available at Adventures for Kids bookstore in Ventura, has received the approval of the state Department of Education. That means that any public school district in the state is permitted to purchase the lesson plans.

Jody Fickes-Shapiro, owner of Adventures for Kids, said demand for the curriculum has not been high. But many textbooks and lesson plans take a while to capture the public’s attention, she said.

“I think this curriculum works the best when Sandor Vandor takes his show on the road and conducts workshops with teachers and students, so they know how to use [it],” she said. “The concept is interesting.”