How to Teach Math Effectively

Math can be intimidating for some children (and adults, too!). For children needing extra help, teaching math effectively will take patience and flexibility on your part. If you want to teach math effectively, keep these strategies in mind.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Get Real!
   
   To teach math effectively, demonstrate math problems using real-life examples. Find something your child can relate to, whether it's skateboarding, PSP, or UGG boots, and build a math problem around it. This will give your child personal motivation to solve the problem.

2. Manipulate the situation.
   
   (No, not that kind of manipulation.) Math manipulatives are an inviting way to teach math effectively. A teacher supply store or catalog will carry just about any kind of math manipulative you could ever think of (and more!). But you don't need to spend cash to make use of math manipulatives. Small toys, paper clips, pencils, and even cut strips of paper all make for inexpensive math manipulatives.

3. Variety is the spice of life.
   
   And this goes double for math! Keep in mind that there's almost always more than one way to solve a math problem. To teach math effectively, try a different approach to solving a problem if the first method isn't clicking with your child.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are having trouble teaching your child a math concept, make an appointment with the teacher for help.
• Take breaks often during study sessions. Eat healthy snacks, get some fresh air, and exercise a little. Taking breaks will energize your brain.

[Time2Compose]

on 10/7/2008 Teaching kids and getting them to actually understand math concepts can be a challenge. Children as you said, should learn to apply math priciples to everyday life, whether it's skateboarding or PSP as you suggested. It works.

[Sondrac]

on 10/3/2008 Great information 5 stars!