Are you a homeschool parent wondering how to help your child reach grade level in math? With today’s busy lifestyles, many parents choose to take the responsibility of teaching their children, especially if the child is gifted and the regular school system offers limited options. Here you can learn how to teach your child math, no matter the grade level they are currently on.
Assuming your child has the basic tools to learn math, such as understanding basic concepts like numbers, shapes, and equations, you can find great books, websites, videos, and many other resources to teach them. There are five main questions you’ll need to answer in order to address your child’s math needs:
1. What Grade Level Is Your Child On?
The first step in helping your homeschooled child advance in math is determining where your child is at the moment. The most common way to measure a child’s grade level is to compare their reading, writing, and math skills to those of students their same age or grade level.
If your child is behind, you can use the age and grade level standards as a benchmark for where to start.
2. What Are Your Child’s Strengths and Weaknesses?
Once you have an idea of what grade level your child is at, it is important to assess their strengths and weaknesses in math. Knowing what your child is good at and areas they may need extra help with will help you create an effective learning plan that speaks to your child’s individual needs.
For example, if your child finds numbers easy to work with but struggles with understanding equations, you may want to focus more on helping them with equations than working with numbers. Additionally, if your child is strong in problem solving or has an expanded concept of higher-level math, you may want to begin the learning plan with some of the more advanced topics.
3. What Resources Are Available to Help Your Child?
Once you have an idea of your child’s grade level and their strengths and weaknesses, it is important to take a look at the available resources that can help your child learn math. Fortunately, there are a variety of options available. Math books, online courses and tutors, math apps, websites, and videos can all be used to help your child learn math.
Another option is to find a homeschool support group that offers mathematics classes. These classes can be tailored to meet the individual needs of your child and allow them to work with peers and teachers who are knowledgeable in mathematics.
4. What Is the Best Learning Strategy to Follow?
Now that you know what grade level your child is at, their strengths and weaknesses, and the available resources; it’s important to determine the best learning strategy for your child. It is important to develop a personalized plan for your child that takes into account their learning style and preferences.
Some children learn best by reading, others learn best when things are broken down into smaller pieces, some do better when working with a peer, and some do better when working with a teacher. Consider your child’s learning style when creating the plan and be sure to mix up the resources, depending on the topic.
5. How Can Parents Use Technology to Their Advantage?
Technology offers many opportunities to help your child learn math faster and more effectively. A variety of websites and apps have proven useful to assist with math and have interactive and animated components to help the child understand more easily. These online tools are also extremely beneficial if your child struggles with the structure and rigidity of a traditional classroom setting, as the technology and interactive tools can give them the flexibility to learn at their own pace.
Some of these tools also offer additional features such as quizzes and games to assess their comprehension in a fun and engaging way.
Conclusion
Helping your homeschooled child advance in math doesn’t have to be a difficult task. As long as you take into account your child’s current grade level and their strengths and weaknesses in math, you can find the right resources for them. Taking a personalized approach, based on the best learning technique for your child, and incorporating technology can help accelerate your child’s progress.
With a focused plan in place, your homeschooled child can advance in math and reach grade level in no time.