Many parents feel lost when their child asks for help learning maths, especially if the topic is too complex or they have not learned those concepts in school before. We need to understand that maths is not static as we might like it to be. Mathematics is evolving, so the human brain and the ways we teach maths will inevitably evolve.

Sometimes maths can be daunting, particular with learning at home during pandemic lockdowns, and this is completely understandable, but sometimes this mindset is more related to how teachers, peers, and parents talk about it than anything related to your brain.

Here are some tips on how we can help your kids with maths:

• Avoid saying you’re bad at maths. Try to always stay positive.

Staying positive and avoid passing math anxiety to your child is essential, especially in boosting his confidence. As a parent, you should focus on difficulty and effort and say something like, “I understand how difficult this subject is for you, I had problems with it too. You may not understand it yet, but I am sure that we can work it out together.” Encouraging your child to do their best in solving or completing their assignment will give them confidence, especially if they know that you will be there for them.

• Talk about maths

Talking about maths doesn’t mean that you need to make some statistical analysis or debate on some far-out equation. Instead, you bring maths to your conversation, even as simple as counting clouds or guessing heights. This is crucial, especially for young kids who need to feel comfortable with mathematics because they need to understand that this subject is part of their world.

So, depending on your child’s age, you may need to incorporate maths into any topic you are talking about. You also ask your child questions like:

•  How many is that?
• How could you split this equally?
• What is the chance of that happening?
• How many cards will I draw?

 

• Have your child teach you maths

Another great way of encouraging your child to learn mathematics is to let them teach it. In fact, if they explain maths concepts, even if it is that simple, they are forced to consolidate knowledge, and they will try new ways of explaining it.

In addition, if they are faced with a question that they can’t answer, they will try their best to research more on that topic so they can explain it to you better. Letting them teach maths in their own way may spark insights and may even develop their mindset and study habits.

Overall, you can help your child learn maths better by encouraging them and giving them a chance to change their mindset over the subject. As a result, they will be more confident in tackling difficult maths problems in the long run since they no longer dread the subject.

Over the past decades, maths tutoring has been on the rise because more and more parents are seeking the help of tutors in advancing their child’s math skills and developing their study habits. Some parents think that private tutoring is rather expensive, and they wonder if it is worth the money.
You need to understand that every private tutor is not the same, and there are various factors to consider if a tutor is worth your investment or not.

Factor that determine if a maths tutor is worth your money

• Maths tutor’s skill set and qualifications

Before you hire a tutor, you’ll need to know if he or she as has the qualification to teach the subject. This will ensure that that they will not only help your child accomplish their homework but will also guide them in answering difficult maths problems.

You may want to check their certificate, especially if they have an education degree and a major in mathematics. Having the credential is proof that they are trained and capable of teaching maths.

• Assess their teaching ability

A teacher or tutor may know maths but knowing how to teach maths is a very different ability. So, a skilled tutor should be aware of the different learning styles, and they must be able to adjust their lessons and teaching style based on the needs and requirements of their students.
In fact, they must be able to engage their students fully, which could help your child get better grades at school.

• A private tutor’s teaching experience

A good maths tutor will often have experience teaching in various schools and levels, and they are likely to have a good grasp of different student learning styles, personalities, and effective methods to cater to the needs of their students.
Therefore, a tutor who can skilfully involve children in the learning process is likely to be charging more than someone who has a lesser qualification and skills. So, investing in a maths tutor who has teaching experience will be more cost-effective in the long run.

Keep in mind, a tutor with prior teaching experience can provide references and certificates. This can help you assess if they are a good fit or not.

• A private tutor’s teaching approaches

You may hire a maths tutor who simply follows a course book rather than encouraging your child to develop their analytical skills. On the other hand, you can choose a private tutor who is more hands-on and can motivate you to learn maths in a more systematic way.

That is why you will need to check their teaching styles and approaches. Hiring a good maths tutor will be more beneficial to your child especially during times of extended home learning. As a result, they will be more eager to learn mathematics and retain the information for longer.