There's no doubt American kids need help with math skills, as a 2007 report from the National Center for Education Statistics shows. The report ranked the math and science proficiency of 15-year-old United States students against peers in other countries, and found more than half, or 31, of the participating nations surpassed American teens' scores. In spite of the statistics, your child doesn't have to lag behind mathematically. For parents, the task of helping kids with math is an excellent opportunity to expand their child's skills and to engage an enjoyment of math for lifelong proficiency.
Daily Significance
"Mathematics will become more meaningful when your kids see how important it is in so many real-life situations," the Family Education website reports. Incorporating math into everyday routine helps children grasp the importance --- along with applications --- of math. You will be teaching your child to think in mathematical terms and problem solve. Use math at the grocery store to estimate the total of purchases, play counting games or introduce story problems through conversations with your child.
Effects on Self-Esteem
Your child will move beyond grasping rudimentary math skills and into proficiency more readily if she feels confident about her mathematical abilities and is excited about improving them. As a parent, you can help your kid build self-confidence through praising her efforts and reassuring her when she makes mistakes. Avoid negative talk and stereotypes about math abilities or the difficulty of mathematics. Math can be challenging. But, like a puzzle, math is fun when you discover solutions. Keep it positive and cheer her on.
Benefits of Practice
Give your kids a strong foundation in math by practicing and drilling math facts. "When children have memorized math facts," veteran teacher Rod Teeple says, "they can concentrate on solving word problems and more complex equations." Teeple, who has taught elementary students for 41 years in northern Indiana, adds, "Children who've mastered facts can also estimate to see if answers in equations are reasonable." Practice with your child until they can answer correctly within two to three seconds.
Expert Insight
Staying on top of school work and understanding classroom teaching is crucial for parents helping children with math. Remain in contact with teachers to know current assignments and any areas in which your student needs additional at-home coaching. Ask the teacher for advice on building skills or methods to try to help your child improve. Get extra-credit assignments for your child to bring scores up if possible.
Consideration Other Sources
For parents, "helping with math" often implies the dreaded task of assisting pre-teens or teenagers with homework. And for the majority of parents, the prospect of checking geometry computations for accuracy is enough to cause a moment of genuine angst. According to a Harris Poll Quorum survey, conducted for Sylvan Learning Centers, "more than six out of 10 adults do not feel comfortable helping a teenager with 'advanced math' homework." Even the most math-savvy parent can be bewildered by a homework problem occasionally. Get familiar with online math resources, such as Math.com, that can provide answers and tutorials for your child when you're baffled.
References
- National Center for Education Statistics: Highlights from PISA 2006
- Family Education: 10 Ways to Help Your Kids Do Well in Math
- Sylvan Learning Center: Most Adults Stumped By Advanced Math Homework,
- Math.com: Help Your Kids With Math Homework
- Rod Teeple; Leesburg Elementary School; Leesburg, Indiana
