Is Your Child Ready for Advanced Math?

Do you think your child shows no interest in Math? If you think its because your child is struggling in math, it may not be true. Children loose interest in math also when their skill level is above their class level. Because of higher skill level, your child needs more advanced math that is challenging to them. Lost interest can lead to lost competitiveness with their peers also. A child should never be held back from advancing in math at a pace convenient to them. Here are some signs to guess if a child is need of advanced and more challenging math lessons.

1. The child seems to be daydreaming in class

If what is being taught in class doesn’t challenge child’s intellect, then the child often tends to wander off in his own thoughts and imaginations that are more interesting and engaging to them. Most of the time these children are identified to be “daydreaming” This isn’t an indication of difficult or contentious personality, but rather a natural response to their need to be intellectually challenged.

2. The child “blurts” answers ahead of peers

A child who has advanced math skills grasps concepts much faster than their peers. They often tend to blurt out the answers to a problem before the teacher has finished explaining the steps, many a times to the displeasure of the teacher. This indicates that the child is solving the problem in his head quickly while the rest of the class is taking multiple steps to solve the same. It comes across as a disruption to the teacher’s process, but the child may have a hard time holding back when they are eager to contribute.

3. The child is not turning in homework

Working on math problems that are too easy for a child can come across as tedious and unexciting for students. So when they do not complete their work, it could be because they simply aren’t motivated to do so. Knowing their reason for not completing the work — whether it’s an act of rebellion or an oversight — may not be as important as finding out if they need advanced level math problems to challenge them. When their brain is encouraged by what they’re learning, they are more inclined complete their assignments.

4. The child is “bored” with math

If you hear your child telling you that “math is boring,” it’s important to learn why is he/she saying so. It’s common for classroom instruction to be geared toward students in the middle, which can be disappointing for advanced math students. After a period, a child who isn’t stimulated in a given subject will typically blame the subject itself and give up on expanding their knowledge. This could also lead to their being troublesome in class and labeled as a difficult student.

5. The child is assigned extra tasks

Often times teachers try to come up with creative ways to redirect the accelerated student so they aren’t bored. They may be asked to help their peers with math problems — either by explaining the concepts or guiding them in solving problems. While this is well-intended on the teacher’s part and aims to keep the child engaged, what it does is it keeps the child from exploring new concepts and advancing their skills.

So what are some options to keep your child excited and motivated about math?

• Talking to the Math teacher is one option. Teachers want the best for their students and partnering with them can lead to a good solution in trying to keep the child engaged.

• Other option is to consider enrolling your child in additional math-instruction program that will contest them at their ability level and show them how stimulating learning math can be. Mathnasium of Santee students off with a unique assessment which details the skill level of each student and pinpoints what they need to improve their math-learning experience. A customized learning plan is then created, detailing the specific math concepts the child is ready for. Attentive, highly trained instructors teach students face-to-face at the pace that’s right for them. And both in-center and online learning is available.

Once a child feels challenged and motivated by the advanced math lessons, they have the potential to thrive and enjoy tremendous success. By acting on your child’s need for help, you’re opening doors to higher achievement and helping them reach their full potential.

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