4 Steps to Help Your Child Master Math

Does your child need a little extra help in math? Here are four ways you can “teach” them problem-solving skills, without actually teaching them.

Step 1: Problem-Solving Steps

Many students struggle with solving word problems. Encourage your child to use simple steps to correctly solve them piece-by-piece, rather than trying to do everything at once.

Step 2: Concepts of a Number

Have your child create a collection of items you both can use to investigate concepts of numbers. Suggested items to collect: bottle caps, pennies, stamps, small rocks, buttons, nuts and bolts, dry beans.

Step 3: Go Shopping

Before going to the store (or grocery shopping online), give your child a list of items to locate. Then give him/her a calculator (or scratchpad and pencil) to add up the costs of items and figure out the correct amount of change. Older children can look at the unit prices or price per pound and calculate the costs.

Step 4: Work With Us!

If you want to see a change in your child's education, Nelson’s Bright Minds Academy is a perfect place to be. Our tutoring includes:

• Making sense of problems and persevering in solving them.

• Reason both contextually and abstractly.

• Use critical thinking skills to justify mathematical reasoning and critique the reasoning of others.

• Connect mathematical ideas and real-world situations through modeling.

• Use a variety of mathematical tools effectively and strategically.

• Communicate mathematically and approach mathematical situations with precision.

• Identify and utilize structure and patterns.