Math is one of those subjects that can be tough for kids. It’s not always easy to understand and it can take a lot of practice to get things right.
This difficulty can cause frustration for both students and their families, especially if the students aren’t getting the classroom grades. Perhaps you are wondering how to help your child with math at home. Well don’t worry — there are plenty of things you can do as a parent to help your child succeed.
5 Tips To Improve Your Child's Math Fluency
We've all heard the saying, "Practice makes perfect." It's true for math as well. The best advice for parents is to encourage their children to practice math every day. Math fluency can be improved by a combination of skill development, knowledge acquisition, and confidence building. Here are five tips for parents to help with math fluency:
1. Find Ways To Incorporate Math Into Everyday Activities
Math is everywhere. It's not just about numbers, it's about problem-solving. And there are many ways to incorporate math into daily life activities like cooking, gardening, shopping, and traveling.
For example, if your child wants to bake cookies, the recipe will require measuring ingredients and following a formula. If you're traveling together on a road trip, map out your route using a GPS device or map of some kind, or if your child is young, play a simple objects counting game as you drive. If it's wintertime and there's snow on the ground, try measuring how many inches fell today by using rulers or yardsticks.
Many things you do every day can be learning experiences that stimulate your child’s mathematical thinking.
2. Encourage Your Child To Explain Their Thinking Out Loud
Whether you're working on a math problem or going over different math concepts, your child can benefit from verbalizing their thoughts. Verbalization will help them become more fluent in the language of mathematics and is also beneficial for building confidence in their ability to solve problems.
When your child is trying to solve a problem or complete an assignment, it can be helpful to ask them to explain their thinking out loud. This will allow you to hear what they are thinking and how they are approaching the problem. It also encourages them to slow down and think through their approach instead of rushing into the solution without thinking about why they are doing what they are doing.
As an example, if your child is about to do a multidigit multiplication problem, ask them what the first step is, and why it has to be done first. Then ask them to explain the next step, and why it has to be done next. This will help you understand where they are in their thinking process and allow you to guide them through it if they get stuck.
3. Study Math With Fun Card Games
If you are looking for a fun way to help your child with math, then card games might be the right option. Card games can be extremely engaging and fun for students. They are also a great choice because they can be played anywhere with any number of people. If you have a group of friends or family members who enjoy playing cards, that’s great! But even if it's just one-on-one with your child, card games still work well as an activity that helps them learn how much fun math can be.
Board games are another option for teaching kids about math. Board games can be a great way to get kids to think critically and engage in problem-solving. You might want to consider purchasing a specific game that focuses on math skills, or you could simply use an existing board game as an opportunity to practice various math concepts.
Taking the time to play a math game with your child can be a fun way to get him or her interested in math. Remember that children learn best by doing, so make sure you have plenty of games on hand that allow kids to practice their skills and have fun doing so!
4. Sign Them Up for Tutoring Sessions
Tutoring is a great way to improve your child’s math skills. A tutor can help your child with any areas of weakness, as well as provide encouragement and support. Tutoring sessions can be done in person or through online platforms. A tutor can give your child's learning the attention that it deserves, building their confidence and helping them develop a love for learning.
Private tutoring can prepare a child for important standardized tests such as the SAT or ACT. These tests are crucial to college applications and scholarships, so parents should do everything in their power to ensure that children perform well on them. A tutor will help your child by teaching test-taking strategies and giving practice exams. In this way, they'll feel more at ease when it comes time to take these real tests!
Helping your child with math requires using as many resources as possible and tutoring is one of the best ways to do this.
5. Remain Positive and Supportive
One of the most vital math tips for parents is to remain positive and supportive of the child. As your child struggles with math, you may find yourself feeling frustrated. That's okay — and normal! It is important to keep your emotions in check so that your child doesn't feel discouraged by your negativity or lack of support.
If they suffer from math trauma or math anxiety, it is especially important to let them know that you believe they can do it. Offer encouragement and praise when a difficult problem is solved, and remind them that math takes time and practice to learn (just like anything else).
Don't give up on them. If you're trying to help your child with their math skills but find yourself getting frustrated or angry, take a break from the lesson for a few minutes before coming back at it from another angle. A break will give everyone time to cool down! Also, make sure not to compare your child with other students. Everyone learns at their own pace so comparing could make things worse instead of better for both parties involved.
Help Strengthen Your Child's Math Skills With Our Tutoring Services
You've probably heard the saying, "Math is a critical skill for success in school and in life." It's true. We live in an increasingly complex world where math skills are required for everything from paying bills to getting a job.
Alexander Tutoring can strengthen your child's math skills and improve their performance in school. Our math tutors are experienced and certified to help students of all ages, from elementary through high school. We can also help with SAT/ACT prep and college admissions testing. Click here to find out more about our services.
