Parents who teach their children Math know how hard it can be. It is often a battle to even get started! And once your child encounters a difficult topic and gets stuck, it becomes incredibly frustrating.
It doesn’t have to be that way.
We’ve compiled a list of the top 5 common mistakes that you must avoid.
Mistake #1 – Not starting from the basics
You must learn to walk before you can run. The same goes with Mathematics.
Recently I had a parent bring his child in because he was struggling to learn multiplication. I assessed him, and what I found surprised me – he couldn’t add!
Mathematics is a like a ladder. Start from the bottom and work your way up.
Mistake #2 – Spending too little time on a topic
Most children require 2-3 months to truly master a new Maths topic. Even the very brightest children will need at least a month to master a new topic.
If you teach a new topic in a week, your child will have gaps in his understanding. Chances are you will have to come back to the same topic again in future. Why not do it once and do it right?
Mistake #3 – Not being thorough
What’s a 100 minus 64?
To solve this you would have to carryover (or regroup) twice! (The answer is 36 by the way)
It’s a simple question but we see many, many kids who have been taught subtraction but fail on this very question.
When you teach a topic, make sure you cover all bases. You must make sure the materials that you are using are thorough and well-designed.
Mistake #4 – Not revising
It’s no secret that kids have a lot more brainpower than adults. They are able to literally soak up new information.
This is because their brains are still very plastic and malleable.
However, this also means that they forget quickly too. If you don’t revise with your child he will forget what he has already learnt.
The only way to avoid this is to constantly revise and review old concepts while teaching new ones. Any good Math programme must have revision built into it.
Mistake #5 – Not making learning fun
This is the cornerstone of teaching kids – learning has to be fun. When your child is having fun, he/she will learn so much more in so much less time.
Teach Math in a way that is interesting and engaging. Use blocks to teach number sense and basic arithmetic. Play Math games. Explore creative problem solving, not just boring rote-learning. Make learning as fun as possible.
Even more importantly, instill in your child a love for learning Math. In my years as a Math educator, I believe the best gift I can impart to my students is the love of learning Mathematics.
If you know of other common mistakes in teaching Math, tell us via the comments section below!