No matter what grade you teach, math concepts build off each other. That’s why it is so important to make sure students are properly reviewing the material they’ve covered in their homeschool program. To help you make sure your child has a rock solid understanding of each math topic, here’s how to provide thorough reviews.
#1: Establish What Your Child Already Knows
Before you start a review of math concepts, it’s important to get an understanding of what your child already knows. This will help you create review materials tailored to their current level of knowledge.
To do this, you should begin with a pre-test. This will make it easier to see which concepts your child has already mastered and which ones would benefit from additional review. Another strategy is to start by explaining the math topic to your student in your own words.
Then, have your child explain it back to you in their own way. This will quickly bring to the surface any areas where their understanding might be incomplete.
#2: Create Customized Review Materials
Using the results of your pre-test, create a customized review plan for the math topic your child needs to review. This could include worksheets or practice problems related to the concepts your child is missing. You can also use online apps and resources that make it easy to create personalized tutorials or quizzes.
When creating review materials, focus on finding ways to make the material fun and engaging rather than dull and boring. You could use games or digital tools that explain complex topics in a more interesting way.
It’s also a good idea to review the material in different formats to help make the concepts easier to remember. For example, you could review concepts with audio, visual, text and hands-on activities.
#3: Work With Other Parents and Resources
Learning in a homeschool setting doesn’t mean you have to go it alone. Work with other parents in your area or find online support groups and forums related to homeschooling and math.
Payment services are also available that provide access to tutors and mentors for particular subjects. This can provide additional help for your student as well as a great opportunity for your child to connect with somebody outside the family. Other resources can include libraries and museums that offer education programs related to math and science.
You can also find a wealth of online resources from state-specific educational standards to online activities and curriculum sites.
#4: Use Real-World Examples
Using real-world examples and situations is a great way to make math concepts easier to understand. These examples can be from your own daily life or from current events or trending topics.
For example, if your child is learning about financial literacy and budgeting, you can use everyday scenarios like splitting a restaurant bill among friends or calculating how much each person pays. Real-life examples can include topics related to household chores, grocery shopping, keeping track of personal goals, or even scientific topics that students can explore further. With real-world connections, students will be inspired to apply their knowledge in meaningful ways.
#5: Break it Into Chunks
For topics that require extensive review, break concepts up into manageable portions. This will help your child keep from feeling overwhelmed.
For example, if your student is reviewing all their multiplication facts, break the review into individual facts like 1×1, 1×2, etc. You can also have them practice one fact a day rather than trying to review all of them at once. Once your student is comfortable with chunks of the material, move on to more difficult topics.
This may be done by moving through time periods or following an overall discussion of a concept.
#6: Make it A Challenge
Review activities should challenge your student to think critically and work above their current level. This could include problems that are slightly more challenging than the pre-test material, or questions that require your child to go beyond just recalling facts. When reviewing material, don’t forget to incorporate higher-level thinking such as analyzing and synthesizing skills.
These skills will help your student go beyond just memorizing facts and actually apply their knowledge to different situations.
#7: Combine Math Concepts
If your student is having trouble understanding certain math concepts, you can use combining to give them a better understanding of the material. For example, if your student is having trouble understanding area and perimeter, do a couple activities incorporating both concepts together to give them a better understanding of the material.
This could include having them draw a picture of a rectangle and then label the dimensions for area and perimeter. Similarly, you could use combining for other concepts like fractions or decimals or equations. This can help your student gain a more advanced understanding of the material.
#8: Incorporate Hands-on Activities
Hands-on activities are great for reviewing math concepts because they give your student a chance to apply the material in a more interesting and engaging way. This could include activities like making mobiles or towers with math equations. You can also use hands-on activities to make math concepts more visual.
For example, you could create a visual representation of fractions by cutting a piece of paper into halves and quarters. This will help your student see the fractions in a physical way.
Similarly, you could create a graph paper maze to help your student visualize the concept of coordinates.
#9: Don’t Forget Games
Playing math games is a great way to review concepts and have fun at the same time. These activities provide valuable practice for your student and also give them an opportunity to practice problem-solving in a fun environment. There are a variety of math-related games available, from traditional favorites like Monopoly or Scrabble to more math-focused games like Math Bingo or Math War.
You can also find digital game-based learning programs that teach math concepts in a more engaging way.
#10: Use Technology
In addition to using digital games, you can also use technology to review math concepts. This could include online programs like Khan Academy or Duolingo, or apps like Photomath that help students solve complex math problems. Other technology-based activities can include coding projects, simulations, and virtual reality programs.
These activities encourage greater participation from the student and can provide a more enjoyable review of the learning material.
#11: Make it Visual
Studies have proven that visual aids are a great way to help students understand math concepts. You can create your own visuals with charts and diagrams, or you can use an existing visual like a video or an infographic.
These visuals can be used to help explain difficult concepts like fractions. They can also be used to practice skills like finding the slope of a line or determining the area of a shape.
#12: Keep the Environment Relaxed
It’s important to create a relaxed and stress-free learning environment when reviewing math concepts. Stress can make it harder to concentrate and can make the material more difficult to understand. Create an environment that’s comfortable and inviting.
Give your student stretches or breaks if they need it, or get up and move around during the review activities. Allow some time for play or engage in review activities that incorporate physical activity, like going for a walk and finding shapes in the environment.
#13: Regular Testing and Review
Finally, after a review of any math topic, use regular testing and review to make sure your student is retaining the material. Use testing to gauge their mastery of the concept. You can use pre- or post-tests or any other form of self-assessment.
Make sure that you are providing regular review opportunities after the test to reinforce the material and make the concepts easier to remember. Use frequent quizzes and low-stakes assessments to make sure your student is comfortable and confident with the material.
Conclusion
To make sure your student is mastering the math material in their homeschool program, it is important to provide thorough reviews. Regularly reviewing concepts can help your child understand the material better and retain the information longer.
Use the tips above to create a review plan that fits your student’s current level of knowledge and that incorporates fun and engaging activities. With these ideas, your student will have a strong understanding of all their math topics.