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Below are some suggested tips you can use with your students. The downloadable PDF is a printable that can be shared with parents as well.
Below are some suggested tips you can use with your students. The downloadable PDF is a printable that can be shared with parents as well.
1. Use real-life examples whenever possible.
1. Use real-life examples whenever possible.
This helps ground mathematical concepts rather than see it as a series of abstract concepts. It also helps answer the question ‘What’s the point of doing this?
This helps ground mathematical concepts rather than see it as a series of abstract concepts. It also helps answer the question ‘What’s the point of doing this?
2. Make it visual (and/or tactile).
2. Make it visual (and/or tactile).
Any opportunity to draw or ‘make’ the problem using concrete objects makes it easier to manipulate and solve the problem.
Any opportunity to draw or ‘make’ the problem using concrete objects makes it easier to manipulate and solve the problem.
3. Talk it out.
3. Talk it out.
Have your child explain what they understand or what they think they have to do to solve the problem. This process aids the problem solving process and can help you see what your child understands (or not) and support them accordingly.
Have your child explain what they understand or what they think they have to do to solve the problem. This process aids the problem solving process and can help you see what your child understands (or not) and support them accordingly.
4. Mistakes are good!
4. Mistakes are good!
Research shows that when your brain makes a mistake it is actually ‘growing’ and then ‘grows’ again when the mistake is corrected. Comfort with making mistakes makes for children that are more confident and willing to persevere with a challenging problem.
Research shows that when your brain makes a mistake it is actually ‘growing’ and then ‘grows’ again when the mistake is corrected. Comfort with making mistakes makes for children that are more confident and willing to persevere with a challenging problem.
5. There is more than one way to solve a problem.
5. There is more than one way to solve a problem.
While maths is not typically considered a creative subject, there is in fact a very creative aspect in problem solving due to the fact that any given problem can be solved in multiple ways. By letting your child solve problems in the way they feel ‘makes most sense’ (which may be different to yours!) this allows them to further strengthen their skills and confidence as a mathematician.
While maths is not typically considered a creative subject, there is in fact a very creative aspect in problem solving due to the fact that any given problem can be solved in multiple ways. By letting your child solve problems in the way they feel ‘makes most sense’ (which may be different to yours!) this allows them to further strengthen their skills and confidence as a mathematician.
6. Take your time.
6. Take your time.
There is no correlation between being ‘good at maths’ and speed. Putting a time pressure on maths activities and tasks can create unnecessary stress and lead to mistakes your child may not otherwise make.
There is no correlation between being ‘good at maths’ and speed. Putting a time pressure on maths activities and tasks can create unnecessary stress and lead to mistakes your child may not otherwise make.
7. Games vs. worksheets.
7. Games vs. worksheets.
Whenever possible it is preferable for you to use games with your child rather than worksheets. This makes it a more enjoyable family time and a good math game will work on a range of mathematical (and other) skills in a way that a worksheet will limit what your child learns or how they show their understanding.
Whenever possible it is preferable for you to use games with your child rather than worksheets. This makes it a more enjoyable family time and a good math game will work on a range of mathematical (and other) skills in a way that a worksheet will limit what your child learns or how they show their understanding.
8. Encourage them to persevere.
8. Encourage them to persevere.
Maths can be challenging because some problems require you to persevere in order to solve them. Encourage them to continue and praise their efforts at persevering with the problem once they solve it placing more emphasis on their perseverance instead of getting the ‘right answer’.
Maths can be challenging because some problems require you to persevere in order to solve them. Encourage them to continue and praise their efforts at persevering with the problem once they solve it placing more emphasis on their perseverance instead of getting the ‘right answer’.
9. Make it fun!
9. Make it fun!
Provide your children fun opportunities to use maths such as logic puzzles, sudokus and code breaking activities for them to see that maths can also be interesting and exciting!
Provide your children fun opportunities to use maths such as logic puzzles, sudokus and code breaking activities for them to see that maths can also be interesting and exciting!
10. Maths is all around us.
10. Maths is all around us.
Similar to using real-life examples to make maths concrete, whenever possible take the opportunity to point out where maths is being used (street numbers, paying at the supermarket, counting plates and cutlery when setting the table etc.). This will help to make maths feel like a relevant, useful and necessary subject to learn about and hopefully motivate your children to do so!
Similar to using real-life examples to make maths concrete, whenever possible take the opportunity to point out where maths is being used (street numbers, paying at the supermarket, counting plates and cutlery when setting the table etc.). This will help to make maths feel like a relevant, useful and necessary subject to learn about and hopefully motivate your children to do so!
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