ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT FOR AUGUST 14, 2014

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MESSENGER POST MEDIA
back to
school!
If there is one word I hear day in and
day out from parents, it is confdence.
They so wish their child has it or will
develop one in regards to math. What
is confdence anyway and why is it so
important in math? Short of being cocky,
confdence allows one to roam freely
with little or no fear. There is that belief
that even in difcult situations, things
will turn out fne. The opposite of that is
uncertainty, that nagging, unsure feeling
of how to arrive at an answer. So by the
time a parent sits across from me, he or
she has witnessed enough of the latter
from their child.
Time to take action!
So is confdence in math attainable? The
short answer is yes. The long answer is
still yes...after adequate perseverance
and efort. Like everything else that
we humans attempt, mastering math
for most of us requires practice. There
is no getting around that. There is also
no getting around the fact that math
permeates every aspect of our lives. So
if you are a parent about to navigate this
treacherous math journey with your son
or daughter, come along with me on a
SWOT ride. SWOT stands for Strengths,
Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.
The purpose of performing SWOT is to
reveal positive forces that work together
and potential problems that need to be
addressed or at least recognized. My
hope is that after doing this exercise at
home, a path will open up, leading you
to the most optimal place for your child.
Here are the steps:
1 List your childs internal factors: Innate
Strengths & Weaknesses in math.
2 List your childs external infuencers:
Opportunities & Threats that he/she
cannot control and therefore is immune
to outside forces and events.
3 Analyze to build strengths and overcome
weaknesses so that opportunities can be
used and threats can be minimized.
Here is an example. Feel free to use this
template for your child.
is confidence in math attainable?
I
N
T
E
R
N
A
L
E
X
T
E
R
N
A
L
HELPFUL
Strengths
Has a never-give-up attitude
Is a good reader
(above grade level)
Persistent and self-motivated
Opportunities
Has great afterschool support from
school and local church
Has great family support
Is eligible for Special Education services
Has access to tutoring services
Is enrolled in activities that build focus
and concentration skills
Has access to math websites
HARMFUL
Weaknesses
Is easily distracted
Likes to be accepted by peers
Spends too much time on online games
Is unable to recall basic math facts, rules
or formulas
Has difculty remembering previously
encountered patterns
Feel overwhelmed when faced with a
worksheet of math exercises
Has trouble laying out steps in an
organized manner
Threats
Is exposed to unhealthy peer infuence
Is impacted by social media
School expectations
Too many kids in class


Continued on next page...
BACK TO SCHOOL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT FOR AUGUST 14, 2014 PAGE 2
So lets go back to the original question is confdence in
math attainable? Yes!
We are born with inherent strengths and weaknesses. As
mentioned above, while a precious few can do long division
in their heads, the rest of us have to work hard at it. That is
why an exercise like the SWOT analysis is very helpful. What
we lack in talent, we can compensate by taking advantage of
any existing opportunities. While threats are always around,
we can leverage our inner strengths to achieve our goal.
Every parent I met just wants to hear four words from his/her
child I CAN DO THIS! Now thats confdence!
Aline Nguyen, Owner & Center Director of Mathnasium of
Penfeld, 585-203-1717, www.mathnasium.com/penfeld
BACK TO SCHOOL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT FOR AUGUST 14, 2014 PAGE 3
What causes crooked teeth in children?
We know everyone wants a naturally-aligned and beautiful
smile and its no secret that orthodontic treatment can
make that happen. But, what exactly, is the cause of crooked
teeth?
There are several reasons why some childrens teeth grow in
crooked or overlapping. Some of the common reasons for
crooked teeth include:
Thumb-sucking
Tongue thrusting or improper use of the tongue
during speaking and swallowing
Early loss of baby teeth, which causes teeth
to drift and shift
Prolonged use of a baby bottle or the use of a pacifer
after the age of two
Poor breathing airway caused by enlarged adenoids
or tonsils
There are also hereditary factors we get from our parents
that determine how straight or crooked our teeth are.
These include extra teeth, large teeth, missing teeth, wide
spaces between teeth or even jaws that are too small to
accommodate their erupting teeth.
Many orthodontic problems can be corrected early and
may prevent more extensive treatment later.
The American Association of Orthodontics recommends
that the frst examination occurs by age seven to identify
whether early interceptive treatment would be benefcial,
or if an observation period is indicated before full braces can
be started. During our observation period (which we call
our Growth & Guidance Program) we monitor the eruption
pattern of teeth and jaw growth in an efort to determine
the best time to start orthodontics. In some instances early
treatment may eliminate the need for future extractions of
permanent teeth or jaw surgery.
It is important to recognize that having crooked teeth isnt
just a cosmetic issue; it can lead to serious health problems
down the road as well.
Poorly positioned teeth can:
Interfere with proper chewing, a problem you face at
every meal that impacts your nutrition
Make keeping your teeth clean more of a challenge,
increasing the chance of developing cavities, tooth
decay and gum disease
Put pressure on the teeth, jaws and muscles, increasing
the risk of breaking a tooth or TMJ problems
In certain instances crooked or uneven teeth can
cause difculties with speech patterns.
The good news is that multiple
treatment options are available
to correct crooked teeth and gain
the many benefts of a straight,
healthy smile.
Please visit www.Get-It-Straight.
com for more information on
scheduling a complimentary
consultation for your child or
yourself. Get-It-Straight has three
convenient locations to serve you
in Pittsford, Greece and Gananda.
Dr. Terry Giangreco
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