Tag Archives: Math

Unknown's avatar Elise Rose 8:19 am on May 13, 2020
Tags: , Help, , Math,   

Top 6 Tips To Help With Math Homework

If you’re a parent in Saskatoon struggling to help your child with math homework, you are not alone. Many parents find it challenging to help their children with homework for a variety of reasons. It could be that children are more distracted at home or less receptive to parental involvement. It could also be that the methods of teaching many math concepts has changed over the past several years and can be different in each school district. Whatever the reason, helping your child with homework can get easier using these tips.

Here are our top 6 tips to help with online math homework for families in Saskatoon:

  1. Talk to your child. Start an open dialogue on what the assignment is about, what their teacher has asked them to complete and what they need to do to get the work done. When you find the areas of difficulty, have your child walk through their process to figure out what part of the concept or assignment isn’t resonating. At this point, it is important to remind them it’s okay not to know the answers. You want your child to feel comfortable talking about their struggles and to reduce the embarrassment they may feel in not knowing what to do
  • Adopt a Growth Mindset. Help your child to process that difficulties understanding are a part of learning and that you are there to help them figure it out together. Show them how to keep calm and overcome frustrations when they arise. Praise the efforts they make to solve their own challenges but when they reach a frustration point, encourage them to ask for help. Providing strategies to deal with failure will allow them to feel empowered even when a situation is tough to get through
  • Look for “self-directed” solutions. Prompt your child with some questions to get them looking for solutions and guidance on their own. Try some of these:

-Where should they start?

-What notes could they use?

-Have they done work like this before?

-Could you look for examples online?

  • Make it FUN. Find ways to engage your child so they actually want to tackle their homework. Sometimes when their confidence is low, no amount of solution based direction will get them feeling motivated. When you hit a roadblock like that, try using creativity and games to draw them in. Talk about how math is used in daily life and try getting out of your regular homework setting. If you’re working on fractions or measurement, do some baking. If you’re working on measurement conversions, hit the grocery store or try measuring your home. Anything that gets them thinking about math in a real life way makes it more interesting and shows why math is such a critical skill to learn.
  • Ask guiding questions…. but don’t give the answers. Resist the urge to provide the answers or the solution on how to get to the answer. Ask questions that move them in the right direction and get them thinking about how to apply the strategies they have already learned.
  • Look for outside help. If you’ve spent some time working with your child, have tried creative ways to engage them and they are still not grasping the work, it may be time to seek outside math homework help from a tutor. A qualified local tutor can assess your child’s learning style, diagnose knowledge gaps and determine which strategies will help them best. Having a tutor to help get your child back on track is a great option and it also provides the bonus of an ongoing homework support when needed.

The most important thing you can do to help your child with math homework is to maintain a positive attitude towards seeking extra help and towards math in general. Model a growth mindset and a desire to help them succeed. Building confidence can take time, but if you work together, you will get there.

Mathnasium of Saskatoon was created with your child’s best interests in mind, so if you do need to seek more help with homework, we are here for you. Check out our website for more information on the unique ways that a Mathnasium of Saskatoon instructor can be your child’s best homework ally.

Unknown's avatar Elise Rose 6:18 am on March 5, 2020
Tags: , Math   

Finding A Skilled Tutor For Math Homework Help

Most students will struggle with math at some point in their school career and will need help with homework. Well intentioned parents will often attempt to provide support, but the way math is taught now is quite different from when they were in school. This clash of strategies, combined with the additional pressure many children feel when working with a parent, is often the primary reason to seek outside help from a qualified math tutor.

Finding a skilled and qualified tutor to help with math homework is an important process to ensure your child has a positive tutoring experience. A great experience will translate to improved attitudes towards math, while boosting learning and their overall confidence, so you’ll want to consider the following qualifications before making the commitment to work with a particular tutoring centre or instructor.

A cursory online search should provide you with some basic information to narrow your selections and rule out options that are not a good fit. There are 5 basic pieces of information you will want to consider.

  1. Referrals & Reviews – The first thing to look for is reviews and testimonials from current and past students and parents. Check out the feedback from others to help quickly identify any red flags or qualities that might not be a good fit for your child
  1. Credentials – Tutors come from various backgrounds but they should always be upfront about their credentials. What qualifies them as a great tutor and how does that line up with your child’s needs?
  1. Past Experience – Find out what experience the tutor has or what criteria a tutoring centre uses to screen instructors and ensure they are providing excellent learning opportunities for your child
  1. Successful Track Record – While qualifications and experience are important, a track record of success is the ultimate measure of a great tutor. Have their students shown development? Have their grades and attitudes towards math improved?

The tutoring option you are considering should be able to demonstrate their previous success

  1. Subject Matter Expertise – Every subject is different and taught in very different ways, especially math. Math understanding and application is critical to daily life and future academic success so be sure to choose a tutor who thoroughly understands the way students learn math

Once you’ve narrowed your search, it’s time to dig a bit deeper for further information on how a tutor will go about instructing your child. Every child and family is different but there are some key factors that are proven to increase the success of tutoring.

  1. One on One Instruction – Studies show that direct instruction is the most effective way for a child to learn. While many schools are using other methods, a tutor will be most beneficial when they spend time instructing your child in a one on one setting
  1. Student Led Approach – The tutor should embrace an approach that puts your child in the driver’s seat rather than providing them the answers. The goal is for your child to become independent with each concept and not to rely on the instructor. You’ll see this when the tutor asks great questions, lets the child get it wrong so they can learn from the mistake and when they don’t give them the answers
  1. Understands your Child’s Needs, Learning Style & Goals – An intake assessment should be the first step for any tutor or centre. Your child is an individual and the tutor should take the time to understand where your child needs support, how they learn and what goals they have. A plan should be created using this detailed information so there are measurable and attainable goals for your child to achieve
  1. Fits your Schedule – Be sure to have a conversation about scheduling. For tutoring to be successful, dedicated time is required each week so you’ll want to be careful to select a tutor or centre that can accommodate the scheduling needs of your family
  1. Fits your Budget – Similar to scheduling, ensuring the program you choose fits into your budget is also key for consistency and success. Make sure your choice is truly reflective of what your family can accommodate financially as well

Overall, the best advice we can provide on selecting a math tutor to help your child with learning gaps and homework support is to have a consultation that allows you to talk through your needs and find out if there is alignment with the approach and model of the centre and instructor.

Mathnasium uses an assessment process to determine what your child’s needs and learning style are. We set goals and work with your child to achieve them in a caring and engaging way that rewards their progress and lets the student lead the way. Our Centre offers affordable memberships and an open schedule to accommodate the needs of your family.

Mathnasium instructors are specially trained in our proven process that focuses solely on math skill development. We know it works and we look forward to providing results for your child. If you’re looking for a highly skilled tutor to help your child with math homework, Mathnasium is here for you. For more information on our success stories, check out our Results page here.