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Math skills are inherently important to your child’s schooling; especially as they get closer to high school, where more advanced concepts are taught. Math skills can also be important for college admissions, and a variety of careers. If your child is struggling with math, here are a few ways to help them brush up on and improve their skills.

Cover the basics
Make sure your child understands the basic concepts and facts of math or they will have difficulties as they advance through the grades. Flash cards can be helpful in practicing areas where their skills need help, and some students can benefit from using objects or visualization to better understand problems.

Do Homework the Right Way
Math homework is a central part of driving home the lessons taught in the classroom. Teach your child to start each assignment by first reviewing the examples given. It’s also a good idea to have them try to redo the examples before starting the assignment. This calls to attention any gaps in knowledge or places where they are working incorrectly. It also avoids the frustration of them struggling through an assignment they don’t properly understand.

Practice, Practice, Practice
Practicing math problems is one of the best ways to check for understanding. The teacher may have only assigned one page of problems, but encourage your student to do a few extra problems here and there. The more they work on the concepts, the more they will become second nature to them.

Math Vocabulary
Mastering the concepts with numbers is one thing, but when it comes to word problems, many students get intimidated or frustrated. You can avoid this by helping students in their approach to word problems. Have them read the problem multiple times and identify exactly what they are trying to figure out. If they have to draw diagrams or describe it out loud, that’s okay. If they are having problems with certain steps in a sequence, try substituting smaller, easier numbers to work with and then move up to larger numbers or decimals. Word problems also require a fair amount of vocabulary, so it’s important to check for understanding of basic and new terms. Sometimes working through actual examples is the best way to teach new vocabulary.

Encourage Math in Their Head
It’s not always appropriate, but your child should be able to do math in their head. Discourage them from using a calculator with numbers that are easy to work with. Using a paper and pencil reinforces their knowledge and leaves them less dependent on a machine to figure out the work for them. Doing math in their head doesn’t only have to involve homework. There are plenty of opportunities throughout the day to do some simple arithmetic, keeping the brain fresh. Ask them to calculate the change you are owed at the store, or to help you double a recipe or balance the checkbook.

Don’t Wait to Help
It’s very important that math questions and uncertainties be addressed as they arise. This is especially true for math because it is always building upon previous knowledge and concepts. Children who feel lost can quickly get discouraged and become uninterested in or intimidated by math. If you feel your child is not grasping the material, tutoring is a great alternative for them to practice specific skills, brush up on class material, and build their confidence.

Source: Gisler, Peggy and Marge Eberts. “Top 10 Ways to Help Your Kids Do Well in Math.” www.school.familyeducation.com.