How to Help Your 4th Grader Perform Better In Math
Math requires a lot of time and effort. Kids have different learning abilities and learn at different paces. According to research, when students find math difficult, it has little to do with their brainpower. That said, your child does not have a learning disability, and they are not stupid. They just need a little help more than others to understand math, and that’s okay. There are plenty of ways you can help your fourth grader improve their performance.
Tips Help Your 4th Grader Perform Better In Math
Encourage a positive attitude
What is your attitude toward math? Many grown-ups have a negative attitude toward math, especially when they find themselves in a career where they don’t apply it. Kids will hear words like useless and difficult when adults are talking about math. If this is you, please change. The truth is that we apply mathematics in almost all our daily activities, let alone your career. So make it a habit of saying positive things about the subject, especially in front of the students.
Make math fun
Young children are interested in learning anything fun. There are a variety of fun activities at home. You can incorporate math in activities such as baking where you use measurements and count cups and how many spoons full of sugar. There are also fun math games like dominoes or cards. If your child has a tablet or a learning device, you can download some math learning apps for kids. When children learn things through fun activities, they tend to retain what they learn better and longer. The Indian International School in Singapore uses fun activities to teach and encourages parents to make learning fun, not just for math but for all subjects.
Practice
For students who are not doing too well in math, practice can go a long way to helping them improve. First, you need to find out which topic your child is struggling with. You can get this information from their math teacher. You can then give them a math problem from that topic daily when they get home. You can mix it up once in a while and have them solve different types of equations and word problems. Giving different problems will help them connect the dots between different topics and improve their memory of formulas and concepts. Otherwise, all that practice without retention will be useless.
Emphasize conceptual learning than a procedure
It is more important for a student to understand the concept than memorize dozens of formulas. Solving one math problem can require a combination of formulas. A student who understands the big idea behind a math problem is more likely to know precisely which formula to use. Encourage your child to take time to understand the question. Have them read the problem slowly out loud so they can understand what is required of them.
Math education helps children develop valuable life skills, such as understanding the relationship between cause and effect. Furthermore, math helps in developing a child’s cognitive skills. Before you put any more pressure on your child to perform, remember the factors mentioned above. Also, do not make it a habit of comparing your child to their siblings who are doing better. This can do more harm than good if you want them to improve their performance.
