Math Help
Encouraging your child to love math can seem more challenging than reading or writing; you can't simply open a book and read a story. Instead, parents have to get creative when it comes to math comprehension. Think of ways that math applies to the real world, such as making change, calculating time, and ordering different portion sizes in a restaurant. Whether your child is learning basic math, elementary math, or more complex algebra formulas, math should be a positive learning experience.
Start early.
Understanding basic math concepts will help your child with math comprehension later on. When your child is younger, point to different objects around you and ask him how many there are. As he grows older, let him sit with you while balancing the checkbook or adding up receipts. Math proficiency comes with practice.
Make math fun for your child.
Let your child pretend to have a bakery. Take snacks out of the pantry, and lay them on the kitchen table. Then assign a price to each item. "Buy" a few snacks, and have your child add up the total. Make change, subtract the difference, and be sure to explain to your child, step by step, how to do this. Have a notebook handy for them to add and subtract.
Encourage, Encourage, Encourage.
Building your child's math confidence can empower her not to give up on difficult problems and to participate more in class. Once she feels she is capable of succeeding in math, she will try harder. Hang outstanding work on the refrigerator to show you are proud.
Go over homework together.
Check your child's math problems, and be sure to reinforce what a great job he is doing when he gets the answers right. Go over the math problems he doesn't understand together. Explain the concept of the problem, and re-do the equation.
Explain how math is relevant in everyday life.
Students frustrated with math often say, "When will I ever need to know this?" Show your child how math is an essential skill. Have your child make change, calculate a waiter's tip in a restaurant, and estimate the bill at the grocery store.
Don't let algebra get your child down.
Older students often struggle through algebra classes. Many have trouble understanding the concept of the unknown integer x. Try using real-life situations to demonstrate an unknown algebraic value. If you have $234.00 in your checking account before buying a pair of shoes, and $182.00 after the purchase, how much were the shoes? The unknown value, x, is equal to the cost of the shoes. Using simple equations will help your child begin to conquer algebra.
Hire a math tutor.
Sylvan Learning can provide your child the one-on-one attention to help her grasp mathematic concepts. Tutoring is available at one of our nationwide centers, as well as online. Children in kindergarten through fifth grade are guided through elementary math principles. Students in grades six through eight can receive help in a variety of areas, including algebra I and II, and basic computation such as division and multiplication. High school students also have several options for math tutoring, ranging from geometry to algebra and pre-calculus.