10 Ways to Improve Math at Every Grade Level
Math achievement remains a vital focus in the US, with only about a third of eighth-grade students performing proficiently, leaving educators and caregivers alike concerned about students’ math abilities, and for good reason. Beyond the classroom, honing math skills offers benefits like improved problem-solving and critical thinking. Research suggests that proficiency in mathematics correlates with enhanced problem-solving abilities, critical thinking skills, and even improved long-term career and life satisfaction.
Well-intentioned parents and caregivers hoping to support children’s math proficiency are often left confused by today’s math instructional approaches. Meanwhile, the ongoing “math wars” debate the balance between procedural fluency and conceptual understanding, muddying the math waters even more. While procedural fluency emphasizes speed and accuracy in calculations, conceptual understanding delves into the comprehension of mathematical principles and processes. The optimal approach likely lies in a balanced integration of both perspectives, fostering a holistic math education experience for students.
Read on to explore practical tips for parents and caregivers to enhance your child’s math skills at any grade level. From fostering a positive attitude towards math to overcoming anxiety, below are ten tips to make math enjoyable and rewarding for every student.
10 Tips for Enhancing Your Child’s Math Skills
1. Promote a positive attitude towards math.
First and foremost, addressing your child’s mindset around math is crucial when helping them overcome math struggles. Encourage your child to view math as an exciting adventure rather than a daunting challenge. Use positive language when discussing math and highlight its relevance in everyday life. For example, you can say, “Let’s solve this puzzle together! Math is like a fun game where we get to discover new ways to solve problems.” Check out resources like Math Is Fun for engaging math games and activities.
2. Encourage problem-solving and critical thinking, particularly through word problems.
Oh, word problems. These tricky tasks root math concepts in real-world concepts, which is important, but they can also be exceptionally frustrating for kids, especially those who already struggle with math (or reading, for that matter). Foster your child’s problem-solving skills by presenting them with real-life scenario word problems, then prompt them to visualize the action in the problem. From there, coach kids to act out or sketch the action in the problem. Encourage them to explore different approaches to problem-solving and explain their reasoning. Websites like Math Playground provide a variety of interactive math games and puzzles that promote critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
3. Incorporate math into daily activities.
To further support your child in tackling word problems, try integrating math into daily routines to reinforce concepts outside the classroom and bring real-life meaning to math skills. When you talk your child through various math challenges that you encounter every day, many word problems will start to feel more familiar and accessible. For example, involve them in cooking and baking to practice measurements and fractions. During grocery shopping, ask them to calculate the total cost or compare prices per unit. This resource from Stanford offers math chats and activities corresponding to 36 typical daily routines. Websites like Bedtime Math offer daily math problems tailored to different age groups, making math a part of your family’s daily rituals. For older kids, involve them in meal planning, family budgeting, and home improvement project conversations.
4. Embrace the power of 10.
If you’re like most people, you rely heavily on the number 10 when doing mental math. That’s because the value 10 is integral in developing number sense. Helping kids, young and older, understand the helpfulness of 10 can support them in quicker calculations and mathematical thinking. Introduce your child to ten frames and corresponding activities to solidify their understanding.
5. Make it a game or a song.
It’s been proven time and again that learning through games or songs solidifies concepts into long-term memory and activates parts of the brain that strengthen engagement in learning. With that, look for board games, card games, or online games aligned to the math skills that your child needs additional practice with. Balance this out with some games centered on math concepts that your child is confident in so these games don’t become a continually frustrating experience. Sites like this one for younger kids and this one for older kids offer numerous math-related songs that help kids remember key concepts.
6. Explore math concepts through children’s interests.
Encourage kids to ask questions and investigate mathematical phenomena that interest them. For example, you can explore patterns in nature, such as the Fibonacci sequence in sunflower seeds or fractals in snowflakes. For teens looking to beef up their piggy bank savings, look over bank statements that showcase how interest and percentages work. Khan Academy offers a wide range of interactive math lessons and tutorials covering various topics and grade levels.
7. Use manipulatives and visual aids.
With hands-on manipulatives and visual aids, kids grasp abstract math concepts more easily and concretely and this can be a real game-changer for struggling mathematicians. For example, use blocks (affiliate link), cubes (affiliate link), or counters (affiliate link) to demonstrate addition and subtraction, or fraction bars (affiliate link) to illustrate fractions. For more advanced concepts, try these virtual manipulates for statistics, algebra, and calculus. Resources like Didax and The Math Learning Center offer more free virtual manipulatives that can be used to visualize mathematical concepts at home.
8. Practice regularly and consistently.
Encourage your child to practice math regularly to build fluency and confidence. Set aside dedicated time each day for math practice, and praise their efforts to reinforce positive habits. To keep daily practice exciting, it may be helpful to lean on gamified learning through online games and apps. Try incorporating daily games like Legends of Learning, Nerdle, Summle, and Mahler. Try Prodigy for adaptive math practice aligned with curriculum standards, making learning fun and engaging for students.
9. Encourage peer collaboration and discussion.
Foster collaborative learning by encouraging your child to discuss math concepts with peers and family members. Provide opportunities for group problem-solving activities and encourage them to explain their thinking to others. When appropriate, offer to host a study group at your house so peers have a space to ask questions and learn from one another. Websites like Mathwire offer a collection of math activities and games designed for cooperative learning and group discussions.
10. Seek additional support when needed.
There may be a point when your child’s math struggles exceed your ability to help, so it’s important to recognize when your child may need additional support or enrichment in math and seek resources accordingly. Consider enrolling them in extracurricular math programs, hiring a tutor (explore our Resource Library for tutoring options), or asking their teacher for more support to provide personalized instruction. MathHelp.com offers comprehensive math courses and tutoring services tailored to individual student needs.
By implementing these tips and utilizing the suggested resources, parents and caregivers can empower their children to develop strong math skills and a lifelong love of mathematical learning.
Overcoming Math Anxiety
It’s one thing for a child to struggle with the occasional math problem, but it’s entirely different when your child experiences very real anxiety and fear about math. In fact, it’s estimated that 20-25% of kids experience regular math anxiety. For these learners, read on for a few ways to shift their thoughts and feelings about math and their mathematical abilities.
1. Create a supportive environment.
Foster a supportive and encouraging environment at home to help alleviate math anxiety. Avoid expressing negative attitudes towards math and instead, emphasize the importance of effort, perseverance, and growth over actual performance. Stories about noteworthy people who persisted in the face of failure often inspire young learners. World famous software guru, Bill Gates, started as a struggling student only to become one of the leading minds in innovation and academia. Provide emotional support and reassurance to your child, emphasizing that mistakes are a natural part of the learning process. Websites like Child Mind Institute offer resources for parents on how to support children with anxiety, including strategies for managing math-related stress.
2. Break tasks into manageable steps.
Break down math tasks into smaller, more manageable steps to reduce feelings of overwhelm and anxiety. Even something as simple as covering up half of the math problems on a sheet offers some children relief and reduces overwhelm. If working on a homework assignment, encourage your child to focus on one step at a time and celebrate their progress along the way. Use visual aids, such as checklists or progress charts, to help your child track their accomplishments and build confidence. Understood.org provides tips for breaking tasks into manageable steps and strategies for helping children with executive functioning challenges, including math anxiety.
3. Practice relaxation techniques.
Teach your child relaxation techniques to help them cope with math-related stress and anxiety. Encourage deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, or visualization techniques to promote relaxation and reduce tension. Practice these techniques regularly, especially before engaging in math-related activities or assessments. Resources and tools like Kidshealth.org help kids and adults learn and practice relaxation techniques for managing anxiety, including specific strategies for coping with math-related stress.
By implementing these strategies and utilizing the recommended resources, parents and caregivers can help their children overcome math anxiety and develop a positive attitude toward math. Remember to provide ongoing support, encouragement, and patience as your child works toward building confidence in their math skills.
Growing Minds, Growing Math: Let’s Grow Math Mastery Together!
Honing math skills not only enhances academic performance but equips children with essential problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities for life. While there are plenty of tips above, remember that it’s okay to start small and gradually incorporate these tips and resources into your child’s routine. The key is to create a positive and supportive environment that fosters a love of learning.
Stay connected with Ed2Grow for more valuable insights and resources to help you navigate the joys and challenges of helping kids learn.
This blog post may include paid ads and as an Amazon Affiliate, Ed2Grow earns money from qualifying purchases.
