Math can be as frustrating as learning to read. There are a lot of different ways to come up with the right answer but there is always a right answer. It’s highly logical and not everyone’s brain is built to if. If you find yourself struggling to teach math to you’re not the only one. Try these five easy tips and keep trying. You’ve got this.
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Pick a Great Math Textbook
A good quality math textbook is a starting block of teaching math. You need to teach concepts and formulas and you might not know all of the math. This gives you examples. It gives you the how in what you’re trying to teach. You can make your own worksheets or use what’s in the textbook. Come up with games and hands-on ways to learn the material as you go.
You can also ask for help. Know someone who’s an engineer? Get them to help with physics, geometry, or calculus. Get into a co-op with other smart parents who have skills you don’t. Or get a tutor for the hard stuff.
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Use Hands-on Math Toys
Play is the way kids work out what they’re learning. Getting them hands-on learning toys. You can use things that are official “math” toys or things you have a lot of like matchbox cars or Legos.
Use the group of toys to teach the basics. It’s easy to teach count, add, subtract, multiply, divide, make fractions or create shapes. Use Legos to do some building basics or learn more through the harder calculations in engineering.
Get the amazing toys like Cuisenaire rods and tangram blocks. There’s so much you can do with these two. Even twenty years ago when my mom was teaching me and my brothers these ones were available and we used them. Aiden loves them too.
Don’t be Afraid to get it Wrong
Did you know you can learn from a mistake? If Edison wasn’t willing to make mistakes, we wouldn’t have light bulbs. Play with the problem. Think like an inventor. Getting the answer wrong isn’t a bad thing. You could discover something.
Remember to get the right answer.
If your child struggles with multiplication you can make it an additional problem. Use those math toys or multiple toys to make groups and divide.
Make up games to practice the problems. Play with what you’re working on. You never know you might discover something new.
Keep it Simple
Would you have been able to go from merely adding two numbers together to calculus equations? No, there are a few steps in between. Remember that your child needs you to help them go from what they know to what that concept is. If it’s counting by 2s, start with counting by 1s. If they can add simple numbers, then explain that adding 2 to 2 equals 4 so that’s the next number. Or use the number line and have them circle every other number. Then practice it. They need to learn the concepts to know the concepts.
Use Real-Life Examples
Working on fractions? Bake some cookies. Ask you to work through the recipe and ask how to double or half the recipe. Talk about how your speed affects how fast you’ll get there.
Let them keep track of how much it will cost when you get to the register at the grocery store. Or let them earn their allowance by task. Make a “checking” account for them and let them balance the books.
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How to Teach Math
Teaching math can be difficult. Especially if you don’t have a math brain. Just remember to teach your kids at their level. It will help with your frustration levels and theirs. Use these simple tips and keep learning.
