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Creating a positive attitude about math is an important first step in shaping your child's success in the subject.
Basic math and the skills learned at the early elementary level are easily reinforced through repetition and practice. Make math fun with simple games for tasks that children do not look forward to. Use a timer and see how many addition or subtraction facts can be answered in one minute. Then play again and try to beat that number.
Think aloud about a problem first. What information is available? What is the question really asking? Sometimes hearing it and discussing it verbally can lead to understanding the concept and applying it.
Use visual organizers or picture to explain a concept. Encourage your child to draw pictures to visually address a word problem.
Use manipulatives to provide a concrete explanation for troublesome areas. Small toy animals or counters can help a child who struggles with addition, subtraction, and even place value. Create simple math problems during play time, dinner time or even travel time, to strengthen addition and subtraction skills.
If your child gains a strong understanding of basic math skills early on, he will have much less trouble advancing to more difficult topics. Many children fail to see the importance of math beyond basic operations. Discuss the importance math has in many different professions and how advanced math is necessary for some careers like engineering.
Help your child use math in their everyday life. We use math when we shop, when we travel, and when we cook. Involve your child when you balance the checkbook or pay bills. Let her measure ingredients for a recipe or count the amount of change you should get at the grocery store. If you are planning a trip, let her calculate how long it should take to get there if you drive a set speed. Understanding the usefulness math plays in our lives can provide your child with the motivation to learn it.
Stay involved with your child's schoolwork and his progress. Work through difficult homework problems together and make sure your child shows how he arrived at the answer in areas he finds difficult. Check over all of his work and help him correct anything he may have missed. Your support and encouragement will help your child‘s success.
Because children of all ages learn best through play and useful applications of their skills, games that involve math are extremely
important at home. Early learners will excel with games like dominoes or checkers. There are a wide variety of computer games available for all skill levels (check out the websites on our list). These games typically provide an immediate boost in knowledge and understanding.
Make math a part of everyday life for your child. Use subjects your child is strong in to emphasis difficult math functions. There are many literary pieces that incorporate math, problem solving, and numbers into the story. Math can be taught through science or history as well. Remember to keep a positive attitude about math and its common uses and encourage your child's progress each day.