How Parents Can Help Their Children Succeed In Mathematics
As your children advance through the grades you may begin to feel that you can no longer help with their math. Whatever your reasons may be, when you take a back seat, your children lose a valuable resource. Some simple things you can do to help your children learn math are listed below.
- Become acquainted with your children’s math teachers and their expectations, especially at parent-teacher conferences.
- Ask the math teacher how you can assist your children at home with their math assignments.
- Encourage your children to complete their assignments accurately and completely.
- Ask your children to explain to you what they are learning, as well as how they need to complete the work required. Ask to see their homework folder or notebook.
- Emphasize that math competency can be gained through hard work and practice.
- Always reward your children with praise when they do well.
- Talk about math in a positive manner, pointing out the practical tasks that require math, such as planning a home budget or discounts when shopping.
- Encourage your children to use logic and common sense when solving math problems. Check to see if the solution makes sense.
- Let your daughters know that they can be just as successful in math as your sons.
- Students will be expected to think abstractly. This will take daily attention in class and daily practice at home.
- There are daily assignments and your children are expected to complete them. Mathematical concepts build each day throughout the year. Encourage your children to stay caught up with their assignments.
- Encourage your children to come to class prepared to take notes and participate.
- Remind your children often of the importance of getting a good, solid education and demonstrating a positive work ethic daily.
- Daily attendance is extremely important. When your children miss one day of class, it impacts like missing 3 days: they miss questions on the previous day's lesson, the current day's lesson, and they return to questions on a lesson they have missed.
- Encourage your children to seek extra help as soon as they have trouble understanding concepts discussed in class. Their teachers are willing to help, but they are also encouraged to seek this help from you and their peers.
- Ensure that your children have and wear prescription glasses or contact lenses, if needed.
- Provide your child with a quiet place at home to study.
Parents, we are here to help not only your children, but also to provide help and information for you to help them. We look forward to working together with you to help your children achieve success.