These days math homework can be a big source of anxiety for parents. It is often difficult for parents to help their child with their “new math” because it is very different from the “old math” they are accustomed to.
If this is the case for you, you may question …What do I do when they come to me for help? Where can you I gain a better understanding of how they are learning math? Here are some ideas that may help you to better assist your child.
1. Have them explain.
Start by asking your child either to explain their math homework or to talk about what they did in math class that day. This kills two birds with one stone. You can learn the concepts while they retrieve what they learned which will help them to commit the information to memory.
2. Be honest about your skills
Tell them that you learned math differently as a child but you want to know how they learned it. This can also help them to build confidence because they know something that heir parents don’t know for once!
3. Embrace the struggle
The struggle is often a sign that they are learning. The human brain actually gains knowledge when you make mistakes when learning new material. You can acknowledge the challenge but with a positive spin by saying something like, “Ooh, this looks like an interesting problem. Let’s dig into it!”
4. Focus on the process
Focus on the process rather than the answer. Once you can understand the process completely, the correct answers will come. You can gain knowledge of the process through asking questions about possible ways to solve the problem. Ask questions such as: What information do you already know? What are you trying to find out? What is the first step in solving this problem? Could you use manipulatives or draw a table to help you solve it?
Remember that learning is a process. You aren’t going to understand how to solve every problem but knowing the basics and the concepts will help you to better assist your child.
To help you continue learning, here are some resources that may be helpful.
“9 ‘new math’ problems and methods”
“Parent roadmaps to the Common Core Standards—Mathematics” Resources categorized by grade explaining the key math concepts for each grade. In English and Spanish
Illustrative Mathematics “For families” page Access short parent resources for each topic in K–5. In English and Spanish
GreatSchools math videos Short videos that for learning key concepts, K-12
Khan Academy Covers a wide array of math skills and concepts. K-12
Mathy Matt videos Videos created by an associate professor of mathematics teacher education at Ohio University. Explains different ways to approach different types of problems. His videos for K-12 and most are less than 10 minutes long.
“Mathematics resources for parents and guardians”
“A family’s guide: Fostering your child’s success in school mathematics” From The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Help parents and guardians from pre-K to 12 to understand math standards, approaches to teaching, and ways to support homework and key concepts in math at each grade level
Sources: That’s not how I learned it! 4 ways to help your child with “new math”. Mary Resanovich, NWEA.
