Stop the Tears, Arguments & Whining During Math Homework

Every night Jessica dreaded asking her son, Jake, about his math homework.  Jake usually stomped off and returned with a sullen attitude and a crumpled worksheet he slammed on the table.  Jessica watched as Jake struggled. He kept his head down, muttered, and got more and more agitated. Often simple problems would be wrong and he didn’t even notice.

Jessica later learned he was showing classic warning signs of math struggles.  When Jessica tried to help, he complained that she wasn’t doing it right and that she just didn’t understand. He was right. She didn’t understand. She knew how she would do the problems and how to get the right answers but she just didn’t understand some of the tasks Jake was being asked to do. She wondered:

• Why does he have to explain his thinking?
• Why does he have to estimate so much? Isn’t getting the actual answer better?
• How can he work so hard and yet make so many simple mistakes?
• What was wrong with her way of solving problem?
• What’s up with all the “tools” he is supposed to use, like number lines and diagrams and boxes? Tools should make things easier, not more confusing.

Jake’s math homework time created a negative mood for the whole family. Jake and Jessica fought more about math homework than any other subject. Sometimes, it would take two or three hours to complete and everyone was exhausted afterward. Plus, she was neglecting reading to her daughter because she was busy cajoling Jake. She went to Jake’s teacher for help.

Jake’s teacher explained how Common Core has changed math instruction. She pointed Jessica to some online resources including, “Are You a Parent in Littleton Frustrated with Common Core Math Standards?” and the article “Common Core Math Standards”. The articles explained how math instruction has changed since she was a student. Jessica was armed with more knowledge, but homework time was still dreadful. She needed to quickly put an end to the homework wars.

She vowed to get Jake the help he needed in order to get him back on track and stop the tears, arguments and whining. She decided to learn about online tutoring, math tutors and math centers, like Mathnasium of Littleton.  She wrote down the pros and cons of each to make an informed decision.

Benefits of Online Tutoring

• It can be done in your home using technology.
• You can chose the online tutor based on factors other than geography. This is great for people living in rural areas.
• It is often the cheapest option.
• You can sometimes record or download parts of the lesson.
•  It may be one-on-one.
• Some online tutors have flexible schedules.
• Goes at the pace of the child.
• May give updates about progress.

Cons of Online Tutoring

• Many kids get distracted at home with siblings, television, cell phones, or just about anything. You may waste valuable time and money because your child simply doesn’t pay attention.
• Children don’t build the same rapport with online tutors that they do with face-to-face instructors. This affects their motivation and level of participation.
• You have to buy computer accessories to communicate effectively online.
• Technological glitches may disrupt a tutoring session.
• The internet has a lot of tutoring scams. It is definitely a “buyer beware” mentality.
• Hiring a good online tutor takes a lot of time and effort. It’s not unusual to go through several ineffective tutors before finding a good one.
• Online tutors often only work on homework and don’t address numerical fluency.
• They rarely use a well-structured curriculum.
• The parent still has to supervise the tutoring session.
• Most online tutors do not give an assessment to find gaps in the student’s learning.
• The lack of commitment means that many families simply don’t follow through with the tutoring.

Benefits of Private Math Tutors

• Some of them come to your home.
• It is one-on-one and face-to-face.
• Children build a rapport with the private tutors and may ask more questions.
• Goes at the pace of the child.
• May give detailed updates about progress.

Cons of Private Math Tutors

• Hiring a good tutor takes a lot of time and effort. It’s not unusual to go through several ineffective tutors before finding a good one.
• They rarely use a well-structured curriculum that aligns with state standards
• They are often the most expensive option.
• Many kids get distracted at home - they play with the dog, get up to get a drink, use the bathroom, watch what their siblings are doing, etc.
• Some children become dependent on their tutor and don’t attempt their math homework without the tutor being there or they do great on homework but fail tests because the tutor is not there (learned helplessness).
• Most do not give an assessment to determine if the child has any foundation gaps that need addressing
• They rarely have flexible schedules.
• You must be ready to make a financial and time commitment.

Benefits of a Math Learning Center like Mathnasium

• They have a well-structured curriculum. Mathnasium and Sylvan help with school homework as well.
• Instruction is at the child's pace.
• It is face-to-face in a group setting with individual, one-on-one instruction.
• Mathnasium uses different learning styles to work with a child’s strengths.
• Students have time to work independently and get quick feedback. They learn resiliency without overwhelming frustration.
• The center director hires the best instructors and trains them.
• All parents need do is choose the center with the curriculum and philosophy that matches their child’s needs. Mathnasium instructors focus on mastery and understanding of mathematical concepts starting with number sense, and numerical fluency, and assists students with completing homework and preparing for tests. Kumon focuses on repetition until mastery and Sylvan uses iPad to teach lessons and assists with completing homework.
• Children build a rapport with the instructors and are engaged in math 97% of the time (everyone has to go to the bathroom or blow their nose occasionally).
• Math centers give a thorough assessment to find gaps and weaknesses in mathematical understanding.
• Mathnasium provides regular, detailed updates about each student's progress.
• Most centers have flexible schedules. Mathnasiusm of Littleton is open every afternoon and evening Monday-Friday and Saturday mornings and students come in according to their schedule and availability (drop-in instruction, no appointments needed).
• Parents do not have to supervise the instruction. They are encouraged to go workout, run an errand, or relax

Cons of a Math Center

• Kumon gives extra homework. Many families find the extra homework tedious and cumbersome, especially if math homework was a hassle to start.
• Parents must evaluate a child’s readiness to go to a math center. Sylvan and Kumon start at age 3. Mathnasium works with children in second grade and up with options for exceptional kindergarten and first grade siblings and students.
• You must find a center that specializes in your child’s needs. Sylvan offers reading, writing, science, technology, study skills and test prep. Kumon has a reading program and a math program. Mathnasium focuses only on math instruction, math homework, and test prep related to math.
• You must be ready to make a financial and time commitment to improving math.

Jessica took Jake to Mathnasiusm of Littleton. Suzie, the director, gave him a thorough assessment and created an individualized plan of action just for Jake and the knowledgeable instructors helped him with his math homework and understanding math at a deeper level.  Jessica doesn’t dread asking Jake about math homework anymore. He has even started to show her some different ways to think about percents and do multiplication. Most of all, Jessica loves seeing Jake smile again.