Math

How much time do parents waste arguing, coaxing, yelling and bribing our kids to just get their homework done? Sometimes students struggle with a specific subject, sometimes it is all of the homework, but it is always frustrating and difficult for everyone. Here are some tips and tricks to help parents help their kids with their basic math skills so they are better able to understand more advanced math and can complete their homework.

1. Understand how your child learns best. Do they remember things they hear, things they see or do they need to touch things to understand? A child who learns from listening may benefit from math songs, a child who learns from seeing can use flashcards and a child who needs to touch can use tokens to create math equations.

2. Play a dice game to help them memorize their basic facts. Use three regular dice and roll them. Use the numbers that show to create an equation that equals 11. They can add, subtract, multiply or divide the numbers in any combination or any number of times to create this equation. Modify this game to include only addition, subtraction, multiplication or division as needed. Use tokens or small objects to help kids create the equations if this helps them learn faster.

3. Use flash cards to help them memorize the basic facts. Play a game with the flash cards. Get two identical decks. Shuffle the first deck and lay them so the equations are facing up. Shuffle the second deck and lay them down in a stack so the numbers are facing up, but you only see one card at a time. Take turns looking for the equation that matches the numbers facing up. Once a match is made place the two cards to the side and continue. The person with the most matches wins.

4. Listen to math songs such as those created by School House Rock. These are fun songs that can really help kids memorize their basic facts and better understand math.

5. Do some baking when kids are working on fractions. The need to add ½ cup or ¼ tablespoon to recipes will help them understand what a fraction is and how to add them together.

6. Utilize math software. There are many different online math games available that are fun and educational. Check with your child’s teacher to see if they have any specific recommendations for skills that need extra work.

7. Play games that require math such as Monopoly, Sudoku or Mancala

8. Play counting games in the car. See how many red cars, blue cars or white cars you spot on the way to the store. Add them together to see how many cars total.

9. Have them help other students who are also struggling. Often the act of teaching someone else helps to increase the students understanding. This is also a great idea for kids who are good at math and struggle to complete their homework because they are bored.

10. Have kids use pennies to work through equations in their math homework. Some kids will understand better when they lay out three pennies and two pennies and then count them to get five pennies.

Math skills are essential for school and learning the basic facts will build a foundation for students to learn in middle school and high school. Basic math is also necessary in many sciences. Encourage kids to use their math skills in real life to help them understand why it is important.

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