5 Ways to Give Your Kids the Math Help They Need

Math can be a tough subject for many children, and I have yet to meet a child who says math is their favorite class—whether they homeschool or not. And if you’re a homeschool parent, you know that giving your kids the math help they need gets more challenging each year.

But we know students need to develop a strong foundation in mathematics, so let’s talk about how to give your kids the support and encouragement they need.

In this post, we’ll discuss five tips to help you support your kids in learning math with the goals of fostering a love for learning, inspiring curiosity, and building their confidence in this foundational subject.

We’ll talk about this more later in the post, but before jumping into the first point, I want to mention a terrific math curriculum in case you haven’t heard of it yet: CTCMath. This curriculum has worked wonders for many families, helping homeschool parents and their children approach the subject of math in a new and more attainable way. Finally, some math help that actually works!

Even better, the folks at CTCMath offer a free trial and a 365-day money-back guarantee. Take some time to think about that as we go through these next few math help tips.

Tip #1: Foster a Positive Attitude Towards Math

One of the most important things you can do to offer your kids the encouragement and math help they need is to foster a positive attitude toward the subject yourself. Avoid expressing negative opinions about math in front of your children, even when you’re frustrated at some challenging math problem you’re trying to puzzle through.

Believe me, I’ve been there, but our frustrations can influence our kids’ perceptions, so we’ve got to remember to keep our spirits in check. This is so important, not only because attitude is everything, but also because one of the greatest freedoms we have as homeschool parents is to foster a love for learning in our children!

And one big way to do it is by harboring that positive attitude ourselves.

For younger students, this will mean encouraging your kids to view math as a fun and interesting puzzle to solve rather than a daunting and impossible challenge.

Tip #2: Practice Regularly

Like any other skill, math requires regular practice to master. And because math concepts build upon one another, you want your kids to have a solid foundation in each math concept. That solid foundation comes through consistent practice. Practice might not make perfect, but here are a few more accurate phrases you can adopt for your homeschool classroom:

1. Practice makes progress.
2. Practice makes permanent.
3. Practice makes proficient.

Encourage your kids to practice math regularly—regardless of which specific skills they are learning—and you don’t always need a math book. You can of course have them practice via homework assignments, but also with a variety of math worksheets and activities you can find online, as well as with math games and even daily activities such as cooking or budgeting.

Set aside a dedicated time for math practice each day and make it a part of your child’s homeschool routine. This consistent practice will help reinforce their understanding of math concepts and improve their problem-solving skills.

Tip #3: Use Real-Life Examples

Help your kids see the relevance of math by using real-life examples to illustrate mathematical concepts. For example:

• When grocery shopping, involve your child in calculating the total cost of items or determining the best value for money.
• Do some math in the kitchen together! When cooking, ask them to help measure ingredients and adjust recipes accordingly.
• Use traveling or homeschool road trips as a way to practice all kinds of math skills on the road!

By showing how math is used in everyday situations, you can make it more tangible and relatable for your kids.

Tip #4: Provide Support, Not Answers

When your child is struggling with a math problem, resist the urge to provide the answer right away.

This one took me some time to learn as a homeschool mom. Sometimes, while I was busy with some other task, my kids would ask me for the answer to a multiplication problem or for some other kind of math help. I’d offer the answer without thinking.

Then I’d pause and ask, “Wait a minute, is that for your homework?” They’d give me a sheepish grin or a nod.

I eventually learned to ask a question or two before giving them the answer, as well as to guide them toward finding the solution themselves. Here are a few ways to offer math help for your kids without giving them the answers:

• Encourage them to think critically about the problem. I taught at a private school for several years, and I remember one student who just didn’t want to put forth the effort to think about the math problem. As soon as she came to a new concept, she would ask for help. I eventually had to tell her she needed to read the instructions first and try to work on one of the math problems herself. Then, if she couldn’t grasp it, I’d gladly work through it with her. Part of engaging our kids in curiosity is encouraging them to think critically in all aspects of life, including the oft-dreaded subject of math.
• Help them break it down into smaller steps, if needed. Some kids like to figure out the math “in their head.” I know, because that was my approach to math. As a homeschooled child, I wanted to get my math done as quickly as possible, so I’d try to solve the problem in my head to save time having to write it out. Well, my youngest approaches math in the same way. When he reached algebra in ninth grade (and now algebra 2 in tenth grade) I’ve had to strongly encourage him to write out each step of the equation. (Keeping track of the order of operations, positive and negative numbers, and all that goes into a single equation can be really hard when doing the math in your head.)
• Suggest that your child try different approaches. For example, if you have a young student struggling to grasp the concept of subtraction, give them physical objects they can count and then remove in order to understand what subtraction or “take away” is really all about.

This process of problem-solving is crucial for developing their mathematical reasoning and independent thinking skills.

Math Help Tip #5: Seek Additional Resources

If your child needs extra help with math, don’t hesitate to seek additional resources such as tutoring or online educational platforms. I mentioned it briefly earlier in this post, but CTCMath is a terrific math curriculum specifically designed to take the frustration and intimidation out of math. Finally, you can have math help for all your kids, no matter what level they are at in their homeschool.

If math is the most dreaded subject in your household, if your children often feel overwhelmed learning new math concepts, if getting math help is the biggest struggle of your homeschool day, you’ll want to check out CTCMath! It is an approach to math that builds your kids’ confidence and helps them excel in the foundational concepts of math, then builds on those concepts in an engaging and interactive way.

Math might never become the favorite subject in your homeschool classroom, but it doesn’t have to be the worst! And you can play a crucial role in helping your kids develop a strong foundation. By fostering a positive attitude, encouraging regular practice, using real-life examples, providing support, and seeking additional resources such as CTCMath, you can empower your children to excel and grow in confidence.

Even better, with a little bit of regular effort, you can help your kids develop a lifelong love for learning!