When it comes to learning math, every child learns at a different pace. While some teaching and tutoring methods work for some children, those same approaches to learning may not work for another. One of the most effective ways to help a child grasp the fundamentals of mathematics is to teach math in a way that the child understands and feels comfortable.
To help your student or child learn the fundamentals of math, here are three helpful tips designed to create a learning atmosphere that will encourage your child to learn math.
Have patience
Learning a new concept, especially a new subject requires a certain amount of time for comprehension. With mathematics, the foundation of mathematic principles sets the stage for every type of math that follows a child through their entire education. Understanding the core rules of math is an important process that a child must learn in order to achieve success with math. Expecting a child to understand a mathematical process the first time through places a level of pressure on the child to immediately grasp the concept. While some students automatically comprehend mathematics, for some the process is long and hard. It takes more than a few attempts to work through math problems and understand how each method correlates. Patience on the part of educators, tutors, as well as parents is necessary to provide encouragement for the child to want to continue to learn math.
One of the most effective ways to teach the concept of math is to be patient when it comes to questions. From training to tutoring, the way a subject is presented, and the level of patience the deliverer of the subject has will speak volumes to the child’s overall mathematical performance. When children are given the opportunity to feel encouraged during the learning process, they are more encouraged to do better.
Customize lesson plans
Since each child learns in a different way, it is important for teachers to tailor lesson plans so that they provide optimum learning benefits for students struggling with math. Traditional math methods still work for students, but not for all students. Finding an approach to math that helps it to click in the minds of children, is the ultimate goal and the path to understanding.
According to Mathnasium Learning Centers, the key to helping a child understand the basic fundamentals of math is taking an assessment of how the child understands math, customizing lesson plans to address the level of math knowledge, and teach in a way that works for each individual child.
A good tip is to utilize positive elements that a child enjoys and add those concepts to the mathematical lessons. Make the learning process fun. This is a good way to diffuse the fears that are often associated with learning math, making it a less intimidating process.
Reward Success
All too often, students learning math are marked down with bad grades or told what they are not doing instead of being complimented and celebrated for what they have done right. Math can be intimidating to a child, and if there is already a level of failure associated with the child’s attempt to learn math, adding criticism does not help. If a child is never told that he or she has done a great job or is left to feel like success brings no rewards, it will affect their desire to want to learn more. Give positive coaching to math students, and let them know that they are doing well when they do. Adults want to hear positive affirmation when they are doing well, and children need to hear the same. Reward the progress and achievement of math students with various different incentives to help them understand that doing well is supported and recognized.
Math does not have to be a subject that kids fear, nor does it have to be a subject that is not understood. Learning math can be enjoyable with the right approach to learning, and become a successful steppingstone into a child’s future.
