Why 7th Grade Math Matters More Than Most Parents Realize
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Middle school is a challenging time for kids and parents alike, with social lives, extracurricular activities, and academics all becoming more complicated. For many students, 7th-grade math standards are an intimidating aspect of the school year.
Although 7th graders aren't applying to colleges or taking the SAT, they are entering a pivotal era in their math education. From the constant of proportionality to properties of operations to algebraic expressions, the concepts your child learns in middle school math will carry over to the rest of their academic career. Here's why 7th-grade math matters and how you can help your child succeed in their classes.
What 7th-Grade Math Standards Actually Cover
Studying 7th-grader math for the first time can cause anxiety and frustration because the topics are more abstract. The Common Core standards outline what topics students should understand before the end of the year, and many of these concepts are more advanced than anything they've encountered in the past.
Common Core 7th-grade math standards schools have to cover include:
- Proportional relationships and ratios, with a focus on real-life percentage problems, such as discounts, taxes, and tips
- Rational numbers, including fractions and decimals
- Expressions and linear equations where students solve real-life and mathematical problems, such as savings plans, using numerical and algebraic expressions and equations
- Geometrical figures, scale drawings, area, and volume
- Drawing inferences about populations based on samples
For many students, 7th-grade math is their first introduction to algebraic concepts, coordinate planes, and problems with different kinds of numbers and expressions. These skills also connect and build throughout the year, so failing to grasp a topic early on could have consequences when they take exams weeks or even months in the future.
If your child is having a hard time with 7th-grade math, don't panic. Many students struggle at this stage, and you can take steps to help them, such as hiring a tutor.
How 7th-Grade Math Prepares Students for Algebra and Geometry
The mathematics standards in 7th grade have a lasting effect on students' math performance. Math scores for students in the United States have dropped over recent years, largely because math is cumulative and gaps in earlier years worsen over time.
For example, 7th-grade equation work becomes the essential "grammar" of high school math, the language they need to solve problems in their later classes. Without mastering those fundamentals, they may find it harder to navigate their math classes down the road.
Pre-algebra is a large part of 7th-grade math because it teaches students about the idea of using equations and working with variables. They learn to use ratios, integers, linear relationships, and unit rates to solve problems. They also expand operations to include fractions and decimals. In addition, 7th-grade math sets up essential geometric principles, including area, volume, angles, and scale drawings.
If your child doesn't learn these concepts in 7th-grade math, they won't have the background knowledge they need for their high school algebra and geometry courses. Getting lower grades and feeling discouraged in earlier math classes can also affect their confidence and motivation. They might grow to dislike math as a subject, making them more resistant to learning it and taking the courses they need as they progress through school.
Common Pain Points Parents See at This Age
As a parent, you want to help your 7th grader succeed in math, but that's not easy to do if you aren't sure why they're struggling. These are some of the biggest challenges for students at this age:
- Sudden drop in confidence: Some children who previously excelled in math may lack confidence in 7th grade because they sense the pressure is higher and feel overwhelmed by new, more advanced concepts.
- Difficulties with multi-step problems: Math problems in 7th grade have less straightforward solutions and require reasoning skills students are still developing, so they require more energy, focus, and work to solve.
- Struggles with complex concepts: For many students, 7th-grade math topics include daunting and unfamiliar terminology and ideas, including negative numbers, fractions, and formal algebraic thinking.
These concerns alone are enough to make 7th-grade math a challenge for students and parents. On top of that, ADHD, dyslexia, and anxiety are often more intense when students are studying math, potentially creating more hurdles to cross.
How Tutoring Strengthens Skills and Rebuilds Confidence
Using a 7th-grade math guide for parents is one way to help your child work through the issues students have with these math topics, but remember you don't have to do this alone. Working with a professional tutor can help students move past the obstacles they encounter during 7th-grade math.
During your child's first one-on-one session, the tutor will evaluate any gaps in their learning, including any they've carried over from earlier grades. They can use those insights to review the foundational skills they need. They'll also help the student see why math works, not just how, giving them a deeper understanding of the concepts they're learning and their real-life applications.
In addition to covering challenging material, a tutor can help students build problem-solving habits to reduce panic and frustration, which is especially important if they have anxiety or struggle with time management. They can also teach students strategies for specific types of math questions, including word problems, equations, and reasoning, so they feel more relaxed when they encounter those problems on an exam or in the classroom.
How Alexander Tutoring Supports 7th Graders Through This Crucial Year
When you're busy with school dances, sports, and music lessons, conquering 7th-grade math sometimes feels like an uphill battle, but it's one worth fighting. The math concepts your child learns now will serve as the building blocks for the classes they take in high school and beyond.
At Alexander Tutoring, our expert tutors are physicists, engineers, and mathematicians who know how to simplify complex ideas for 7th graders. They offer patient, encouraging instruction tailored to different learning styles and needs, including students with anxiety, ADHD, and dyslexia.
Reach out to book a risk-free trial lesson and get a closer look at how tutoring can help your 7th grader excel at — and even enjoy — their math classes.
