Here’s the thing everyone…teaching math is sometimes difficult. It just is, and there isn’t really anything we can do about it…OR IS THERE?? Mamas, don’t worry! I’ve got you! This is PH@H…of course there’s something we can do about it! Let’s dive in!
Math is one of those subjects that can be intimidating to both parents and students. And sometimes it’s just one party who hates it, while other times it’s both. In my years of teaching, I have had parents tell me they “can’t” do math, they hate math, they didn’t understand it the first time (so what would they now…), their child doesn’t learn math from them. You name it, I’ve probably heard a parent say it. But mamas, I have some amazing news for you!!!!
No matter if you love math, loathe math, try never to do math on days that end in “y”, or anything else, you can teach it to your children. I promise! An important note here: This article is not addressing situations that include learning disabilities and the need for accommodations. That is a whole other article, and a different set of circumstances. Today, we will focus on the mainstream student and parent who just need a little bit of joy added back into math, and maybe a little advice on how to do that.
Even though I am a trained, licensed, and experienced teacher, that does NOT mean that either math, or teaching math, comes easily to me. I’ll let you in on the same secret I have told all of my students: Math was hard for me. As a student, I was one of the kids who said they hated math. I had no desire to learn it, and no desire to figure it out. Knowing this was not a decision that was to my benefit, my parents and teachers of course, made me learn it anyways. Sound familiar? However, I was stubborn, and convinced that I was incapable, which are arduous obstacles to overcome. Some of you have either been there yourself, or are watching your children try to reside in that place. Let me tell you another little tidbit from when I was younger.
If not for my patient dad, I may not know any math today, and I certainly wouldn’t be able to teach any. He sat with me nearly everyday I had math homework or studying for a test to do. I remember that he would get home from work, eat dinner, wait for me to get home from gymnastics, and then spend the remainder of his evening with me teaching me how to do my math. And we didn’t simply do the math…I made it hard on us both. I argued, cried, whined, complained, and fought him tooth and nail. We spent what felt like hours each evening when I am sure he would have rather been doing other things. But he knew my learning was important, so he spent the time and effort…LOTS of effort, I’m sure (because *obviously* preteens and teenagers are *always* right, and every little thing must be argued for…insert face palm here)!!! We also often had snacks such as crackers, popcorn, nuts, etc. This helped because inevitably, something funny would happen while we were snacking, and we would laugh about it, breaking the math tension.
I had friends whose parents actually just did the work for them. They still can’t do much math. I had other friends who just decided not to do the work. They didn’t get good math grades, and they still can’t do much math. I also had a few friends for whom math came easily, and I must admit that I was envious of their prowess at the time. But, I ended up understanding…FINALLY! For the record, I have been teaching elementary, middle school, and high school level math for almost 20 years now. Thanks, Dad!!!!
Since then, I have been able to help think of ways around math struggles for many of my students, including my own kids. Here are the pointers I have to share with you today…I hope at last one of them resonates with you and your student, and that it offers some help in navigating this world of numbers.
TEACHER TIPS:
- If you struggled with math, be honest with your kids and tell them about what you went through as a student.
- If you have funny math stories, tell those too!
- Study the math terminology…Have them learn new math terms just like vocabulary terms. (word, spelling, definition) Make flashcards on either white or multicolor index cards.
- Bring snacks!!! I’m not kidding here. On particularly difficult days, having a math pizza party is much more fun than no pizza. Plus, math on a hungry tummy is never a great equation. (I just couldn’t resist the teacher pun. ) Popcorn is also great because you can lighten the mood by having them take a mini break to catch popcorn in their mouths, see who can flick it the farthest, etc. Fruit snacks (we choose the organic kind, but any will do) are awesome goal celebrations. For example, do 2 problems, get a fruit snack. Make it fun with food!!!!
- Take frequent breaks…some kids need a stretch break after every few problems. This is ok. Just oversee it so the 1-2 minute break doesn’t become a 10-20 minute break.
- Use a whiteboard and many different colors of markers. (My favorite markers are linked for you.) The colors make a big difference in brain engagement for some students.
- Some students do better if they take notes first, including writing down example problems. Teach them on the board, or on a paper while sitting next to them, and have them write down what you say and write. The physical act of copying can again engage different areas of the brain, making both understanding and remembering easier.
- If the math your student is learning is still difficult for you, too, tell them! Learn together!!! Watch YouTube videos together, visit websites together, anything to let them know that you’re in this with them! It’s amazing what it does to stop their fighting of the learning process when they know you’re right there in the same boat.
- Make up math jokes. For younger students, this can look like silly rhymes, songs, etc. For older students, this often looks more like what we would call “an inside joke,” or a funny saying that is only funny to those who were there. Maybe a word problem has a funny name, maybe a math term sounds like a different word, or maybe a concept is even meme-worthy. Your student will remember the levity.
I’ll be thinking of you and your students this week as you may be trying out some of these new techniques. Math doesn’t have to be a “bad word”…it took me a long time to realize that. I pray that finding the joy in math, although perhaps once thought to be impossible, is easier than you may have thought.