Three Math Resolutions for Parents and Students

By Nicholas Mele

Any and every time of the year is a great time to make good choices about your child’s math learning.  All parents can take steps that have a huge positive impact on their child’s progress in the classroom.  This is especially true in math class.

Here are 3 things parents and children can do on a daily or weekly basis which will contribute to a more positive learning environment at home and in school.  These practices can improve the confidence and understanding in math for students AND parents. 

Three Math Resolutions for Kiddos:

1. Ask at least one question in math class each week!  Here’s a little known secret about math teachers… they LOVE to answer questions about math.  Asking questions about math in math class accomplishes several important things:
   1. It keeps you engaged in the class and in learning.
   2. It shows your teacher that you are interested and involved in the class.
   3. It provides the teacher an opportunity to explain a topic or concept with which many students may be struggling.

As you become more comfortable asking questions, set a new goal of two or three questions each week… then, one question every day!

2. Do your math homework first.  Working on math puts you in a great mindset to think critically and creatively.  Lots of other homework tasks require these skills so doing math homework first can set the perfect stage to complete other homework efficiently and effectively.
   Additionally, if you get stuck on a particular math problem, it is often helpful to leave the problem, clear your head and return to the problem later with a clear mind.  Doing math homework first allows you the opportunity to switch to other homework in order to clear your mind.
3. Teach the math on your homework to someone else.  Often, it is useful to double check solutions to problems, especially difficult ones.  An extremely effective method of double checking an answer is to explain the process you used to someone else.  Developing an explanation and VERBALIZING it will often provide you with greater understanding of the math you used and expose flawed reasoning or calculations.  Teaching is the best way to learn something more deeply!

Three Math Resolutions for parents:

1. Ask your child at least one math related question each day.  Speaking with your child about math (and school, in general) helps her understand that it is important to both of you.  It shows her you are engaged and vigilant.  Asking a math related question each day is an easy way to do this.  The question doesn’t have to be particularly challenging (but challenging questions do provide for more dialogue.)  How much change should I get back?  How many minutes is it until the movie starts?  How many years before you’re half my age?
   When discussing the problem, focus on the concepts and strategies, not on just the answer.  Encourage your child to verbalize her thinking clearly.  Articulating thought processes is the first step in metacognition and is the key to developing deeper understanding.
2. Play family games that include mathematical thinking.  Family game night is a great place to encourage mathematical thinking and discussion.  Understand that math is not all numbers and computation!  Playing games that require players to have specific strategies is a perfect opportunity to think mathematically.  Monopoly, Clue, Mastermind and Battleship are all obvious examples of strategic games.  But games like Trouble, Sorry, Uno and even Yahtzee also require specific strategies to be competitive. 
   Games like Candyland and Chutes and Ladders require little or no decision making by the players.  These games are appropriate for very young players who are still developing color and number recognition, but should be replaced by more challenging games as children develop.
3. Keep a positive, growth oriented mindset about math!  It is dangerously easy to create math anxiety and/or a negative view of math in your child, without even knowing it.  If you feel you aren’t terribly strong in math or had negative experiences with math as a student, be very careful how you communicate it with your child. 
   Saying, “I was awful at math when I was in school!” communicates a fatalist idea that the ability to succeed in math is static.  More importantly, it may unconsciously communicate to your child that it is okay not to try any harder.
   Saying “I had to work very hard at math when I was in school!” communicates that hard work and perseverance are most important to succeed in math (and in life!)
   They myth of a “math brain” has been debunked a thousand times.  We can ALL learn math.  The greatest barrier to success in math is believing that it is unattainable.