Mind Over Matter the Most for Students
What is a mind, and what is matter? These questions require thought and can become divisive if not explored with an open mind. Learning requires an open, inquisitive mind but deals with matter. What is the difference between the two? What is the relevance of these questions to parents and tutors alike?
A glance at the dictionary provides a vast array of possible meanings and use for the word mind. Generally, it means the human ability to think, perceive, feel, reason, or desire and act upon those thoughts. It includes focus, mental health, intention and reliability of action. Hence its importance in education and learning. When starting on a learning journey, we need to pay attention to what is happening around us. Our mind receives all the information, but it is more than just our brain at work. There’s something about humans that enables us to use incoming information to change our situation or environment. Tutoring with our experienced and reliable local private tutor helps a student pay attention.
On the other hand, matter has physical substance, occupying space and having mass (weight), although it does include something that may cause concern. We often spend time using our minds to consider the matter before us. We manipulate matter out of necessity and pleasure. Need prompts us to prepare and consume food to keep our bodies healthy. In Melbourne’s winter, it is necessary to wear clothing; the choice of type, fabric and style is individual. Physical sciences, such as biology, chemistry and physics, study the properties and activities of matter. Science tutors assist secondary school students with these subjects.
Primary school students engage with mind and matter constantly. They begin with understanding the materials surrounding them. Matter and material have the same root word; can you see it? Early childhood learning involves using their senses and then matching symbols to the items. Consider the humble apple. It comes in various colours and sizes but remains an apple. As a student develops literacy, they see, feel and perhaps cut or bite an apple. After recognising the word sound, they see an image of an apple and then the written word representing the object. The taste and feel of an apple and the words associated are part of the process, but the descriptive words come later. What a wonderful thing an apple can be. Learning uses many varieties of objects. Encourage a child’s curiosity by asking them to describe what they see, feel or handle during a day. Seek the assistance of our friendly and knowledgeable tutors if you detect a problem in early learning years.
Once a student’s mind connects objects to ideas, they replace an object with concepts. Older primary and secondary school students are required to use their minds in abstract ways. Advanced mathematical concepts are often abstract. Formulae and advanced algebra require elastic thinking with symbols rather than objects. Social sciences require conceptualisation, while statistics requires both abstract and concrete processes. Thus, the notion of the mind is more valuable than matter. A student stuck in concrete thinking patterns will benefit from one-to-one tutoring with one of our local, experienced tutors.
Minds develop in various ways. However, experts agree that discipline, routine and practice are all beneficial. Discipline is not punishment, therefore need not be harsh. However, it needs to be consistent and reliable for a student to develop self-discipline for learning. Careers who establish routines and supervise practice often find their students take responsibility and discipline themselves to study. Fruition Tuition supports families to create successful learners. We train students to apply their minds to the matter at hand.