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In an ideal world, everyone would be a math genius. Unfortunately, reality is bleaker than this scenario. In the real world, most students hate math and want nothing to do with it. Consequently, their math performance becomes abysmal.
If your child falls within this category, there are tons of ways you can help them, from hiring a math tutor online to teaching them yourself. To guide you, we’ve collated some of the best strategies for boosting your child’s math success. Let’s get into it!
Understand a kid’s learning needs
Here’s the thing: your child might not actually be terrible at math. In some cases, the problem may stem from their learning needs not being met. Thus, if you’re trying to boost your child’s math success, the first step to take would be to understand and address their learning needs. Is your child a visual learner or an auditory learner? Does their math teacher pay attention to a student’s preferred learning style? Does a child need extra time to assimilate concepts? Understanding your child’s learning needs will bring you one step closer to tackling the problem.
Speak to their teacher
If you’re having difficulties understanding your child’s learning needs, speak to their teacher. The teacher will point out a child’s strengths and weaknesses and then, you can use the insight to help your kid study. For instance, if your child struggles with additions, you can center the lessons around this concept to help them improve.
Incorporate math into a child’s daily lives
Math is everywhere in our daily lives, but your kids may not know that yet. Thus, if you’re trying to improve a child’s math skills, you can begin by incorporating the subject into their daily activities. For instance, when making dinner, teach children simple measurements. You can also offer them to learn math when baking cookies by counting out the number that goes into each batch. Ask a kid to count the steps on the staircase, and so on. If you incorporate mathematical concepts into children’s lives, they are more likely to love math.
Let kids refresh their memory
No matter how hard we try, we certainly can’t remember everything. In some cases, your child may forget a few concepts they’ve learned earlier. When this happens, you can help a kid refresh their memory by dropping hints and clues. Subsequently, incorporate a daily exercise where a child will repeat what they learned the previous day. This approach will allow them retain concepts for longer.
Make your home a math-rich environment
If you’re trying to provide mathematics help for kids, the very first place to start should be your home. Make your home a math-friendly environment by incorporating math into every corner. For instance, you can hang counting mats or times tables posters on the wall. Clocks and calendars are also a great way to start.
Have a study routine
Math for kids becomes easier when your child has a regular study routine. As humans, we need routines to stay on track and achieve results. With a regular schedule, your child will become accustomed to learning math and their performance will improve.
Apply math to real-life situations
If your child is struggling to understand certain concepts, you can help them by applying some topics to real-life scenarios. For instance, if a kid finds it hard to subtract, you could take them shopping. Buy something worth $7, offer the cashier $10 and ask your child to calculate what your change is meant to be by subtracting 7 from 10. Constant practices like this one will certainly promote understanding of the subject.
Put down the calculator
We live in a digital age where calculators are easily accessible via smartphones and smart watches. While this tool is certainly helpful, kids can easily become addicted to it, which may prevent your child from developing problem solving or critical thinking skills. Thus, encourage kids to think for themselves more often and only use the calculator as a last resort.
Play math games
Game-based learning has become increasingly popular over the past few years. This learning style helps your child learn faster and more importantly, retain what they’ve learned. Therefore, encourage your child to play math games whether online or in-person.
Hire a tutor
If all else fails, don’t hesitate to call in reinforcements. Hiring an experienced math tutor might be the experience your child needs to up their performance. To find the right tutor, you can ask your circle of friends or check online for recommendations. If you’re looking for a reliable tutor, Brighterly is an example website worth considering. With a team of expert tutors and a comprehensive curriculum, this platform will help your child perform better at math.
Final Thoughts
As parents, we all want our kids to succeed. That’s why we’ve collated some opportunities to help your child become a math whiz. Apply these tips, and if you can’t handle it on your own, a math tutor will certainly save the day.
Good luck!
