Study Time Arithmetic

See the Scope and Sequence of Concepts Taught in this series.

To the School Board, Parent, or Teacher:

What really is involved in the study of mathematics? Is it a study of abstract facts and ideas? Are numbers and mathematical concepts the results of human inventions and intelligence, or the haphazard or accidental process of evolving space and matter?

The study of mathematics and the compilation of this material has brought us to an awe-inspiring observation very different from the ideas in evolution. To us, it is obvious that numbers, facts, and their calculating procedures are so orderly, so accurate, and so consistently dependable that the Author of this entire system of concepts must have been infinitely greater and wiser and keener than the human mind. Who, other than God Himself, could have set a law into motion that never changes and always works out correctly each and every time when its concepts are learned and followed carefully? Without fail, when solutions to math problems do not check out correctly, there is always either an error in our calculations, or an failure to observe some bearing concept.

So, a study of mathematical concepts is really a study of the orderly and unchangeable laws of nature—a study of a segment of nature itself. And when we respect them as such, this study reveals a glimpse of the omnipotent nature of the Creator of the universe.

How do we teach this respect to our children? How will they best receive it? To find the answers to these questions, we need to observe the learning process of children in the elementary grades.

We know that children learn much more by what they see and feel than by what they hear. What we tell them with words will take a distant second place if it does not match what we tell them by our deeds and example.

It is the same in teaching the knowledge of the Creator by math study. There would be many opportunities throughout this series to declare the greatness of God. However, children seem to be better able to relate to that greatness, which lies in simple things, by studying material in a setting of our simple lifestyle, with examples to which they can relate to by their every day experiences.

Before attempting to administer the lessons, one should be sure to look through the teacher's manual to better understand how the lessons are presented, how the reviews and tests are arranged, what the scope of the studies includes, as well as the themes of each unit. Often a portion of the child's ability to comprehend a lesson depends on how well the teacher understands the procedures.

The material in this book is designed to allow flexibility to fit into schedules of variant lengths and patterns. For a more detailed explanations of the main features of this book, see the note to the teacher under "Becoming Acquainted" in the teacher's manual.

We hope that the wonder of the order of the mathematical realm will help to lead our children to the fear of the Lord. For that is the true beginning of knowledge.

—Study Time Publishers