Homeschooling does not only provide a different approach to learning but it also comes with a lot of advantages, such as more time to explore subjects that kids are more interested in, more personalized instruction and more control over their learning environment. Teaching math to homeschooled children is, however, daunting and can present some difficulties. This article will discuss how parents can be able to teach math to their children while they are homeschooling successfully.
1: Create a Routine
Establishing a regular structure for homeschooling sessions is one of the best approaches to teaching math to homeschooled children. A routine will prevent distractions that can divert their attention from their lessons and make it easier for youngsters to learn math concepts faster.
Parents should also be consistent with their schedule and keep working with their children until they completely understand the lesson a certain day. The routine should also involve taking a break in between sessions. Every five minutes or so, parents should give their kids a few minutes break so they can get out of the learning environment and have time doing an activity they enjoy.
That provides them a chance to break the monotony, recharge their batteries and refocus on their math lesson when they coming back to the table. Finally, making sure to have the educational materials ready before the session starts helps maintain momentum.
Parents should be organized and keep the materials they need close in order to avoid any disruption while teaching math.
2: Use Visuals
Using visuals is one of the most effective methods when teaching math to homeschooled children. Visuals can range from real objects to illustrations, but the most popular are hands-on manipulatives such as colored cubes and blocks.
Other visual materials can include flashcards, diagrams, counters and charts. Visuals give kids a different perspective of the lesson. Seeing the same problems presented in different ways can help youngsters gain a better understanding of different mathematical concepts.
They also provide visualization strategies which can help children solve problems and visualize the results that come from each action. Visuals also make the lessons more engaging and fun.
Kids enjoy doing activities with their hands and having abstract concepts come alive when combined with visual aids. Practicing with manipulatives develops their fine motor skills and helps them to understand the mathematical concepts they are trying to learn faster. Using this type of aids can significantly improve their math performance.
3: Make it Challenging
Giving challenges can help children gain deeper knowledge of the material they are learning. Challenges also keep the learning interesting and engaging without feeling overwhelming.
When children are faced with difficult assignments they can solve, they become more determined, confident and gain an understanding that success comes from effort and hard work. Parents should assign problems for their kids to solve independently instead of just repeating examples over and over. They should also come up with challenges based on the lesson their children are learning and supervise the work their children do until they master the task.
That way, kids keep their motivation to learn and gain multiple skills from math. Challenges should also be fun and at the same time feedback-oriented.
Kids should know what is the problem they are trying to solve as well as the solution for it. Parents should talk to their kids about the challenges or mistakes they made and explain to them why they are wrong. That way, children can gain an in-depth knowledge of the material they are studying.
4: Problem Solving
Problem-solving is the key in math and should be taught at home the same way is taught at school. Teaching children how to think logically, recognize patterns, manipulate numbers, use manipulatives and become familiar with problem-solving techniques is essential in order to understand the math concepts they are studying. Parents should give their children math problems to solve and let them work on it in their own ways.
That way, children can think creatively and come up with different solutions to the same problem. It is important to let them figure the material out for themselves and show them the way but not do the work for them.
Making math problems part of the classroom or homeschool environment is also advantageous. Instead of seeing math problems as a chore, kids should be encouraged to see them as an opportunity for experimentation and problem-solving.
That way, children will develop an analytical way of thinking, which can help them answer complex questions and solve difficult problems.
5: Fun Activities
Making the lessons fun is one of the best ways to keep children engaged while they are homeschooling. Fun activities can motivate children to stay interested and keep learning even when they don’t understand a certain lesson.
Parents can organize fun and playful activities such as brain games, scavenger hunts, or math games to keep math challenging and enjoyable for their kids. Games are a great way to engage children in the learning process. Games are also a great way to teach mathematical concepts.
They can help kids practice and apply their math knowledge in a friendly and challenging environment. Some examples of math games can include board games, board and card games, as well as puzzles, riddles and mazes.
Fun activities can also help kids become more conscious of their math skills. When kids have fun, they focus less on the results and more on what they are doing, thus making it easier to develop a better understanding of math techniques and tricks.
6: Smart Technology
Smart technology is one of the pillars of modern education and can help teaching math to homeschooled children much more easier. Technology can help kids explore mathematical concepts in a variety of ways and become engaged in the learning process.
Using smart devices, parents can provide their children with apps and software specifically designed for teaching math. Apps for understanding math concepts, for practicing math facts and for working on different math skills are now available and most are free of charge. Parents should also search for websites that provide educational videos, tutorials, and interactive activities developed to keep children encouraged and engaged.
Providing their children with technology resources can help youngsters become familiar with modern technologies and feel more connected to the world.
7: Create Motivation
Motivation is a key factor when it comes to mastering mathematics. Children need to feel that what they are doing is important, that they can learn and that they can be successful.
Parents should help their kids build self-confidence, make them believe they can master math concepts, and become determined in their math pursuit. Parents should also help their kids set achievable goals that they can work on in order to boost their confidence. That way, they can break the learning process into manageable tasks and unlock their own potential.
Setting goals provides a sense of direction, gives children a sense of purpose and inspire them to do their best. Additionally, praising children for their efforts is also essential.
Parents should consistently recognize their kids’ hard work even when they make mistakes. Celebrating their successes and encouraging them to keep working on math will create a strategy for success as well as an orientation to achieve the best results.
8: Individualize for Attention
Parents should individualize the lesson for attention and make sure that the material is suitable for the level their children are in. Teaching math depends on their kids’ perception of the material and their current math level.
Individualizing lessons also helps children grasp the concepts more easily and avoid feeling overwhelmed due to the workload. Another way to individualize the lesson is to adjust the difficulty level to the background of the child. Kids who are more advanced should be provided with more challenging problems and those who need extra help should be taught in a slower pace.
Finally, parents should also allow their children to focus on their strengths and build upon them. That way, they can find the areas their children excel and work on them more. That will help their kids become more confident and increase their math performance.
9: Offer Support
Support is also very important in order to motivate kids to keep going and achieve their goals. Whether children need help with a specific concept or lesson, parents should be there for them.
Offering detailed explanations about a certain concept or providing their children with math books and extra material is a great way to help their kids in a deeper understanding of the material. Parents should also be accommodating and provide assistance or assistance where needed. That way, children feel secure and build trust in their abilities to find the solutions for their problems on their own.
Finally, positive encouragement is always beneficial. Parents should constantly remind their children of the skills and knowledge they possess in order to keep up their motivation and make sure they keep pushing forward.
10: Extracurricular Math Activities
Extracurricular math activities are a great way to keep your children interested in math. Math-related activities can include board games, puzzle competitions, math clubs among other activities that can help to make the lessons enjoyable and engaging. Extracurricular activities can also help kids to develop a deeper understanding of the material they are learning.
Those activities can help children to make connections and see how the concepts can be applied for real-life applications. That way, children become familiar with the concepts in a more natural way.
Finally, extracurricular activities also help children develop their social skills. Kids can make friends, share ideas and work together in improving their math skills while they are having fun.
11: Connect Math to Everyday Objects
Math is everywhere and children should be aware of it. Teaching them math concepts can be more effective when it comes to connecting math to real-life.
For example, parents can provide their kids with everyday objects such as books, pens or coins, and ask them to make a calculation about them. Parents should also connect math to things their children like. For instance, if your kids love sports, you can ask them how many jumps they can do in a certain time, how many points they need to be the champions or how much time they need to run a certain distance.
That will make math more attractive and help kids enjoy it. Lastly, parents should also let their kids solve real-world problems independently. You can make them fill a shopping list according to their financial budget or help them to organize their room by dividing spaces with math fractions.
That will help children to practice their math skills.
12: Interact With Other Homeschoolers
Interacting with other homeschoolers can be beneficial for teaching math at home. Parents can look for homeschoolers in their local community and invite them to join a homeschooler math group.
That way, children can work together, share ideas and teaching styles which can be advantageous in teaching math to homeschooled children. Parents can also look for math competitions and tournaments organized in their community. Attending those tournaments can help homeschooled children develop their mathematical skills and participate in real-world challenges.
Finally, parents should also look for homeschool group projects and workshops provided for homeschooled children. Those can be great for developing mathematical skills and teaching math in a fun and engaging way.
13: Teach Math with Visuals
Visuals are useful for teaching math especially when teaching math to homeschooled children. Examples of visuals parents can use can range from real-life objects to illustrations and from diagrams to whiteboards.
Parents can also print mathematical charts, diagrams, and graphs to help children visualizing the numbers. Another effective way to teach math with visuals is through storytelling and picture books. Using those materials, parents can help their children develop their imagination and teach math principles in a more accessible way.
Finally, parents should also create a visual representation of the mathematical symbols. Instead of using abstract symbols, parents can represent number symbols with real objects or pictures. That way, homeschooled children can become more familiar with the math symbols and with the aspects they mean.
Conclusion
Teaching math to homeschooled children can be difficult but, following the steps mentioned in this article, parents can help their kids explore the world of mathematics successfully. Establishing routines and structure, providing motivational tools and individualizing the lessons for attention and making the lessons fun, can all help parents in teaching math successfully.
In addition, making use of visuals, connecting math to everyday objects, smart technology and working together with other homeschoolers can help to keep the learning process fun, attractive and engaging.