Parents often wonder how they can help their child with their math homework. The following are just a few suggestions.
- Use the online textbook: The online textbook is the exact same book as the one that is avaliable in class. It is a standard textbook--the same as when we were kids! Each homework is labeled with the section number and a title. Use that number to find the teaching section of the lesson in the book. Read each problem and use the concepts shown to help your child complete their homework.
- Use the notes section of their notebook: For each new topic introduced students are given guided notes, guided practice problems, and independent practice. If your child is having difficulty solving a problem, have them go back to their notes to see if it mirrors a problem provided.
- Have your child explain to you HOW to solve the problem: Studies show that when a student can teach someone else to do it a problem it means they have mastered the skill. Have your child explain how to solve problems, not just the steps, but the math reasoning behind them. Make sure you ask them why they completed a step or what math concept they used.
- Use their corrected homework and classwork to study for tests: Students are required to check their answers in a different color. They can quickly scan through assignments to find the ones they had difficulty with. Encourage your child to flip through their math notebook before a test or quiz and redo problems on the sheets that have many problems marked wrong.
- Don't EVER say, "math was hard for me too. . ." or "I can't help you, I'm no good at math": Telling this to your child validates that they are having trouble and they may NEVER understand. It also makes it "ok" for them to give up. You might choose to tell your child how hard you had to work at math and work together to try to understand the concepts. You'd be surprised. Something you might not have understood when you were in seventh grade might actually make sense now!
