How To Get Better at Math Over the Summer

Short answer: To get better at math over the summer, find a study method that fits your child, set a realistic schedule (for younger kids, two or three half-hour sessions a week), and use online resources and math games to keep it fun. A few minutes of worksheet practice most nights, plus a summer math program or tutor, keeps skills sharp for fall.

Summer is the easiest time to fall behind in math, and also the easiest time to get ahead. These five strategies help fight summer math loss without taking over your child’s vacation.

Key points

• Find the right method: Math is learned by doing problems, not by reading a textbook.
• Set a realistic schedule: Two or three half-hour sessions a week work well for younger learners.
• Use online resources: Interactive tools and worksheets keep practice engaging.
• Make it a game: Online math games cover algebra, geometry and basic skills.
• Consider a program: Summer math programs are linked to higher grades and test scores.
• Review, then preview: Practice last year’s class and try the first sections of next year’s.

How do you find a math study method that works for your child?

The first step to fighting summer math loss is to find the best way of studying that works for your child. Studying for math is different from studying other subjects because it isn’t as simple as reading a textbook and taking notes.

Instead, students tend to master math concepts in more active ways, like working on problems from summer math workbooks or old exams. Flashcards are great because they’re fast and keep your child’s brain active.

You want to find something engaging and effective, with a good number of problems your child can work through.

Keep in mind that in addition to study methods, there are lots of different learning styles out there, too. Is your child a visual learner? Do they retain oral information better? It may take some trial and error to find which learning style and activities work best.

How do you create a summer math schedule?

Once you’ve found the best way to study, it’s time to put it into practice. An effective study schedule should make studying part of your child’s everyday life, but it shouldn’t be all-consuming, either.

• Younger learners: Start with two or three study sessions a week for about half an hour.
• Older students: They should be able to handle longer study sessions to reinforce their math knowledge.

When creating a schedule, make sure it’s realistic. Your child will want to enjoy other summer activities, like hanging out with friends, going to the beach, or summer camp.

A study schedule at a set time that works around these activities keeps things consistent and still makes sure your child has an action-packed summer vacation.

What online math resources help over the summer?

Making time for math over the summer can be easy and dynamic thanks to the wide array of online math resources available. Students today don’t know a world without technology and have been using it as a learning tool since the beginning of their education.

Many also enjoy trying out new resources online, especially those that are interactive and feel like games.

There are tons of free resources available to parents and students focused on math thinking. Some students do really well with print materials, like worksheets and books, while others need something more dynamic to stay engaged. It all goes back to what kind of learner your child is.

Can math games really help kids improve over the summer?

Kids of all ages would rather be playing games in the summer than doing math homework, so why not make a compromise? Among the many math resources online are math challenges and review games.

Online math games are a great way to motivate your child, and they can make kids actually look forward to studying math.

There are online games that cover a range of levels and topics, including algebra, geometry, and basic math skills. They keep your student entertained on hot summer days while helping close learning gaps in a particular area.

So the next time your child asks to play video or computer games, why not? Find a math game your child will love and you both win.

Should your child join a summer math program?

If your child is enthusiastic about math, look into summer math programs where they can join other kids in collaborative workshops, camps, or projects. There are several types of math programs depending on your child’s goals and skills.

Studies show that kids who participate in summer math programs tend to get higher grades in math class and perform better on standardized tests than their peers who don’t. These same studies also report that students who take part in summer programs have higher school attendance rates throughout the year.

When looking for a math program, ask yourself a few questions:

• Is it fun?
• Is it going to address my child’s needs?
• Will my child get one-on-one attention, or is the program mostly based on small groups?

Choose a program that meets your child’s achievement gaps while still being something they look forward to each week. Our guide to choosing a summer math program goes deeper.

What is a simple summer math plan?

Everyone takes a three-month vacation from math each year and still survives, which means summer is also the most valuable time to get ahead. Here’s a plan that costs almost nothing:

1. Do 10 minutes of math a night. Small, steady practice adds up over a whole summer.
2. Use worksheets organized by topic. Kuta Software worksheets cover pretty much every math topic through the end of high school, and the problems go from easy to hard.
3. Review the class you just finished. If you’re taking geometry next year, make sure you can do most of the algebra worksheets. If you’re taking calculus, make sure you can do the pre-calculus worksheets.
4. Preview next year’s class. Try the first few sections of the class you’ll take in the fall. When you see those topics on the board, class will reinforce what you already know, which is a big confidence boost.
5. Work on paper. Do problems on actual paper, not a screen, ideally engineering graph paper. It keeps the math lined up, and neatness is not optional for a great mathematician.

What milestone should 8th and 9th graders aim for?

If your student is in 8th or 9th grade, set a goal of being able to solve a system of equations with fractional coefficients. It’s a major milestone because it proves your student has mastered many important math skills.

Watch Sean Alexander, founder of Alexander Tutoring, solve a system of equations with fractional coefficients step by step.

Why focus on fractions and negative numbers?

Give particular attention to fractions and negative numbers. You may think these topics aren’t an issue for your student, but they are very easily overlooked and never go away.

The problem shows up in sophomore or junior year, in Algebra 2 or pre-calculus, when challenging multistep problems have fractions mixed in. The fraction isn’t the main part of the problem, but if your student isn’t comfortable with it, the whole problem feels overwhelming.

Save yourself the grief by learning fractions once and for all this summer. Start with our lesson on fractions, the mother of all math issues, then find a fractions worksheet and see how many you can do.

“Next to fractions, the skill students most often fail to master, and the one that causes them the most grief, is negative numbers. I see it all the way up to high school seniors.”

Sean Alexander, founder of Alexander Tutoring

Tutor tip: Pair each video or lesson with a worksheet on the same type of problem. Watching a solution feels like learning; doing five on your own is what actually makes it stick.

Tutor tip: Planning for a test in the fall? Summer is also a good time to start SAT, ACT or AP prep. See how summer math tutoring prepares students for test season and our parent’s guide to preventing summer slide.

Frequently asked questions