You Don’t Need to Know Math
to Be Great at Helping with Math!
There are three steps you can follow that will ensure your student is doing his/her best job with assignments.
1. Ask Questions
2. Use Resources
3. Communicate
Ask questions that help students remember what they know:
1. Did you read the directions?
2. Are there any examples or helpful hints on the page? (read everything on the page) In your workbook, read the Lesson summary.
3. What did you do today in class? Have students look back through workbook or previous worksheets or warm-ups, and notebook.
4. Did you take any notes we could read?
5. What does your math journal say?
6. What were you learning right before this? (show me and explain)
7. Could you explain to me the parts you understand?
As you can imagine, these questions can also lead your student to realize that taking notes, keeping up in the math journal, paying attention in class, asking question in class and completing class work are ways to make sure homework is understandable.
Use Resources
Students have other ways of finding helpful information:
1. Have students call a friend from class.
2. Have your child make a homework date with a friend in person or on-line or by phone.
3. Some teachers have websites with helpful links.
4. Use online learning. learnzillion.com and khannacademy.org have videos aligned to the common core. Your student also has an IXL.com account to help with math practice. More resources on my math resource page
5. Students can email their teachers to take a proactive role in asking for help and communicating their specific needs. Teacher email format:
firstnamelastname@berkeley.net.
6. Ask your child to make an appointment with his/her teacher for some one-on-one help.
9. The important idea is that there are many ways your child can find help. Middle school is the time for students to learn to advocate for themselves and take responsibility for their own learning. Students will need support with this. Have them practice approaching the teacher or help them compose an email or text. Check in with your student to see how it went. Keep asking and encouraging until your student makes contact with the teacher. You may want to write an email to the teacher letting him/her know what’s coming up.
Help your child Communicate his/her understanding.
Finally, math homework should take about 20 minutes. It can be an uncomfortable 20 minutes and that is okay. Homework is not a test, it is a chance to think about and practice concepts learned in class. Your math teacher wants to see evidence of a sincere effort that demonstrates perseverance. We want to build students who are increasing their stamina and tolerance of challenging work. We know these are important skills for a successful life.
To that end, homework does not have to be perfect but must be thoroughly explored. We would rather see how your child is thinking about a problem than simply a correct answer.
For the teacher to see the effort, there must be evidence.
Encourage your student to completely write out what is understood and where the confusion sets in.
Happy Homework Helping!!!
Liz Little
Created by Elizabeth Little (2 pages) 10/1/2014