Helping Your Child Succeed at Math

As a high school math teacher and former math tutoring center owner, I encountered all kinds of students in my math classes. Some seemed to breeze through the lessons with very little effort or instruction. Some struggled with the lessons but then seemed to master the material and sailed on without a problem. Still others, a large majority of my classes, seemed to have a "mental block" when it came to mathematics. With our technology based society, having good math skills is no longer an option if one wants to succeed in life. More and more, we encounter problems that cannot be solved through simple arithmetic but require more complex mathematical skills. With some pointers, you can help your child to be a success at math.

1) Don't be discouraging. The parents attitude and opinions about math definitely have an effect on a child. I have had many parents bring their child in for a conference or a tutoring session and say, "Well, it's no wonder Johnny has trouble with math. It's so hard and I hated it when I was in school." Poor little Johnny would look totally defeated. How could he hope to attain a level of competency in math when his parents, the people he wants most to emulate, could not? It is important for parents to have a good attitude toward math. It's fine to be honest and say you had some struggles with parts of your math curriculum, but not to the point of causing your child to be discouraged and lose hope.

2) Math is a skill, and skills can be learned with patience and practice. If your child is worried about his math skills, or if his grades reflect a problem, talk to the teacher. Ask for suggestions. Get extra materials for your child to study with. There are many excellent computer-based learning programs appropriate for different ages and levels, from basic arithmetic to algebra, geometry, and calculus. Ask your teacher for her recommendations. Math skills are learned by DOING problems. Encourage your child to practice the skills he learns each day in class. Sit down with him and have him explain to you what the teacher said, and what his notes mean. Encourage him to practice that skill by working problems. The more you practice a math skill, the more likely it is to be retained. Encourage your child to do homework, but also to do extra problems that were not assigned as added practice.

3) Ask for help if needed. Ask an older brother or sister to help. Ask another family member, a neighborhood child who has had the class, or hire a professional tutor. Ask your child's teacher to recommend someone, or check your local directory listings for tutors. There are private tutors as well as tutoring centers. Some high school students who have made a good grade in the course make excellent tutors. Whichever you choose, stay in close contact with the person helping your child to get updates and suggestions.

4) Show your child how math is used in your daily life. Do you use math to compute the percentage of increase or decrease? To compute sales tax or tips? To average your gas mileage? How about at the grocery to figure which sized product is the best buy? Do you use math on your job in other ways? If your child has interest in a certain career, ask someone in that career to tell your child what part math plays in their daily work. Children learn with concrete examples. Showing real life applications can take an abstract mathematical idea and put relevance to it.

5) Buy math games that you can do with your child at home. Geoshapes is an excellent game for Geometry. There are several board games that deal with algebraic formulas. Check with your local school supply for ideas. Then play these games with your child, or organize a group of his friends to get together for pizza and some extra math fun.

6) Make sure your child has all the needed supplies and tools for his math class. If the teacher recommends a calculator, purchase one. Make sure your child has paper, pencils, ruler, protractor, compass, or whatever the teacher lists as necessary supplies. Then make sure your child takes them to class each day and doesn't forget and leave them at home.

7) Learning math takes diligence. Your child's attendance at class is imperative. They need to be there, on time, and take notes, and ask for clarification for things they do not understand.

A father of one of my students said his son seemed to be having a problem with naming different kinds of triangles. He drew pictures but it just didn't seem to make sense to his son. Finally, he got the idea that his son might learn it using basketball, since that is his son's favorite sport. He took chalk and went out to the basketball goal. He used the goal post as the apex of the triangle and then stood his son to one side, By the father moving out or back, he demonstrated to his son the different in obtuse, scalene, and equilateral triangles. He said it was so worthwhile to see his son's face light up when he finally "got it."

It's not just the responsibility of your child's teacher to make sure your child succeeds. Each parent needs to take an active part in their child's success. With thirty plus students in a classroom, it's impossible for some not to be left behind as the curriculum has to be taught at such a fast pace to cover it all. Make sure to stay abreast of your child's progress or lack thereof and get him or her the extra help needed.

Math phobias can be overcome. Children, as well as all humans, can be different types of learners. Some learn best by hearing. Some by hands-on. Some by sight, seeing it on paper. Most of us, however, are a combination of one or more of these types. And all of us benefit by having material presented in a variety of ways.

Mathematics is such an important part in a successful life, and a student with poor math skills can lag behind his peers even if he has knowledge in other areas. Help your child to be a success.