How do we know if our child's grade truly represents their math skills?
Some children approach math as a procedure, a set of steps to memorize rather than a concept to understand and build on. As time goes by and the curriculum gets more challenging, their memory may still serve them through tests, but math also starts to feel more difficult to keep up with.
We've helped thousands of students in our hometown of Johns Creek, GA, learn and master math through assessment-based, personalized learning plans and proven teaching techniques.
Today, we'll share with you the steps you can apply at home to identify and then bridge your child's knowledge gaps. In doing so, you will help them change their approach and make math more manageable, even fun!
To identify a math gap, we need to know what's expected of the student at their grade level and work from there to find out which concept they’re struggling with.
Every state publishes academic standards that explain what students should know at each grade level, so this can be a great place to start. Georgia, for example, follows the Georgia Standards of Excellence (GSE) for Mathematics.
Reviewing your state's standards for your child's grade can help you identify specific areas where they may be struggling, like knowing your child hasn't grasped their fourth-grade fraction standards instead of just sensing they're struggling in math.
Most school districts, including Fulton County Schools, also publish curriculum maps that show how standards build across the year. This can be another useful resource parents can consult.
Most states test students in math every Spring and report scores across a few performance levels. Georgia's version of the exam is the Milestones Assessment System, which is given in grades 3 through 8.
We recommend requesting last year's report from your child's school if you don't already have it. It can be useful in identifying exactly where a gap is concentrated, say operations, fractions, data analysis, or geometry.
Teachers observe your child's math progress on a day-to-day basis through class exercises, activities, and homework. They are in a great position to identify patterns that aren't obvious from a single grade or test score.
Ask specific questions, such as which topics take the longest to understand, which point do they stop asking for help, and whether the same kind of mistake keeps showing up.
Depending on your child's age and attitude towards math, you can gain valuable insight through a low-pressure conversation. We recommend starting with questions like:
- How do you feel about math these days? Why?
- What is it that you really like or dislike about it?
- Have you always felt this way about it or is it recent?
- Do you remember the topic that you really struggled with? Do you remember those that were easy?
Every answer can give you a clue into your child's relationship with math and where their challenges lie. Combined with what you see in their schoolwork, can help you figure out where to focus next.
If you are unable to get clarity or simply wish to have a more precise and actionable insight into your child’s math skill level, a structured diagnostic assessment is the way to go.
At Mathnasium, for instance, we start the enrollment process with a specially designed assessment that identifies the student’s math foundations, knowledge gaps, and approach to learning math.
For example, if a student struggles with a fraction problem, the assessment can help determine whether they need more practice understanding fractions as numbers or recognizing equivalent fractions. A well-designed diagnostic can identify the specific concept behind a missed problem.
Our students then receive a personalized, assessment-based learning plan their tutors will follow to (re)build math foundations, teach them in a way that makes sense to them, and transform their relationship with the subject.
A well-designed diagnostic follows the thread of a single missed problem back to the concept underneath it
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Not every math gap requires the same approach. Some students may need extra practice with a recent topic, while others need help with skills they learned in an earlier grade.
We will categorize gaps by their impact, starting with recent, topic-specific ones and moving to foundational knowledge and confidence gaps that may be affecting the student’s ability to advance in math.
If your child was doing well in math until a recent unit, they may simply be struggling with one particular concept. In this case, some additional practice at home or extra help from their teacher may be enough.
Addressing the problem early is important, especially if upcoming lessons rely on the same skill. Once your child understands the concept, they can usually continue with the rest of the material more comfortably.
If your child struggles across several topics or seems to have difficulty each time new material is introduced, the problem may involve a foundational skill from an earlier grade.
For example, a student who has difficulty working with fractions may later struggle with ratios, percentages, or other topics that require a complete understanding of fractions.
In these cases, simply reviewing the current lesson may not solve the problem because the student has nothing to build on. The real obstacle is in the foundational knowledge, or lack of, so the remedy is to rebuild it.
Depending on the gap, this can mean revisiting topics from last semester or it can mean revisiting material from a few years ago, and reteaching it to the student in a way they learn best.
Students who have struggled with math for a while may also start to believe that they simply aren't good at it. This can make them less likely to participate in class or ask questions about concepts they find difficult.
Research on math anxiety has found a connection between students' confidence in math and how they approach the subject. When students avoid math because they expect to struggle, they also miss opportunities to practice and improve.
Confidence and math skills should be addressed at the same time. We encourage students to learn from mistakes and recognize the progress they're making. Showing a student that they can master a skill they once struggled with can help them feel more prepared to take on the next one.
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Parents don't have to figure out a math problem on their own. Johns Creek families can use school and community resources to better understand what their child is learning and where they may need additional help:
Georgia Department of Education, Math Resources for Parents: State-level resources, including grade-level standard overviews and family guides for supporting math at home.
Fulton County Schools Academic Support: District resources such as curriculum maps, school-based tutoring options, and contacts for instructional support staff who know your child's school.
Johns Creek Public Library: Free homework help programs and access to educational databases, including Brainfuse, which includes live tutoring sessions for students who need extra support.
Mathnasium of Johns Creek: A math-only learning center offering personalized, face-to-face instruction for students whose gap goes beyond what home practice or general tutoring can address.
If your child continues to struggle despite extra practice or help at school, a math assessment can help determine whether an earlier skill is contributing to the problem. From there, a personalized learning plan can address those areas while helping your child keep up with the math they're currently learning.
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At Mathnasium, tutors help students close a math gap and build the confidence to take on the next challenge
As a math-only learning center, we help K-12 students of all skill levels build lasting understanding, not just a passing grade.
Every student begins their Mathnasium journey with a diagnostic assessment, the same kind described earlier. It identifies their skill level, learning goals, and how they learn best.
From there, we build a personalized learning plan that targets the exact concepts a student needs. We add new material only once the foundation is solid.
Our specially trained tutors deliver that plan through face-to-face instruction, guided by the Mathnasium Method™, our proprietary teaching approach, in a caring and fun group environment.
And the results speak for themselves:
94% of parents report an improvement in their child's math skills and understanding
93% of parents report a more positive attitude toward math
90% of students saw an improvement in their school grades
Mathnasium of Johns Creek serves families throughout Johns Creek and the surrounding Fulton County communities, and a free assessment is a good place to start.
📅 Schedule a Free Assessment at Mathnasium of Johns Creek
Not near Johns Creek?
Mathnasium of Johns Creek is a math-only learning center for K-12 students in Johns Creek, GA. Trusted by over a million parents, Mathnasium uses personalized learning plans and the proprietary Mathnasium Method™ to help students catch up, keep up, and get ahead on their math journey.
Our specially trained tutors deliver face-to-face instruction in a supportive and fun small-group environment, working with students both in center and online to develop a deep understanding of math, build confidence, and improve academic performance.
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