The Homeschooler's Guide to Teaching Math

Today, Mary Ellen and Ginny discuss why nothing makes homeschooling mothers more nervous than the concept of teaching math. Then, making it as simple as two plus two, they provide a road map of tips, suggestions, and insights to help you confidently teach math. Show Notes Let's first talk about what a general scope and sequence would look like for the different stages of your students and some general teaching methods, and then we can discuss curriculum and how to choose the best one for your student. Picking a curriculum  Doing research should not involve asking Facebook.  Review the curriculum in person if possible, ask a friend, see it at a conference, or view it online. Be thorough. Take free placement tests. Speaking very broadly, you have two methods to teach math – Mastery and Incremental. Both use manipulatives and pen and paper.   Mastery – a skill (say multiplication) is practiced for several days, even weeks. The student takes an end-of-chapter test and then moves on to the next skill, maybe division. Mastery is probably best for early grades. There are fewer skills but mastering them is key to continued advancement. Most publishers provide periodic review of past skills. Incremental – with increasing difficulty, different skills are practiced daily for weeks or months. Saxon is the best known. This method is best for older grades as students add four functions for fractions and decimals, geometry, algebraic and trigonometric functions. Daily review pounds all of these skills into the kid's bones!  Caution – common core programs. Primary Grades (PreK-2nd) When teaching math to small children, it is important to make the lessons fun and engaging. Use a variety of visual and tactile learning tools, such as counting manipulatives, flashcards, and hands-on activities.  Counting bears Cuisenaire rods Base ten blocks Dice Wooden Pattern Blocks Pegboards Or you can just pull forks and spoons out of the silverware drawer. Number recognition, writing numbers, counting, and pattern recognition are the goals at this early stage, and each child will gain these skills with daily practice in short lessons. Once these skills have been mastered, you can move on to simple addition and subtraction. Elementary (3rd - 6th Grades) A time to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and reasoning skills. In these years, the children should be mastering: 1. Addition and Subtraction 2. Multiplication and Division 3. Fractions 4. Decimals 5. Geometry 6. Measurement 7. Telling Time 8. Money Skills 9. Probability and Statistics 10. Algebraic Thinking Reinforce these skills with measuring, building, baking, and other household activities.  Middle School These are the years to prepare for high school and higher math solidly. Take time—no shame in repeating concepts. A solid foundation in math basics is critical to prepare a high school student for advanced math. You build that foundation by helping the student to understand the underlying concepts rather than just memorizing formulas. Practicing problem-solving skills, such as breaking down complex problems into smaller steps, is also essential. Providing the student with challenging problems and activities can also help them to develop a deeper understanding of the material. Finally, it is vital to give the student a supportive environment and to encourage them to persist in their efforts. High School Use all available resources.  I hated math and never felt that I was good at it. John Saxon gave me tremendous confidence. Hiring a tutor or doing a co-op are both good options.  Online classes (Khan, Nicole the Math lady, HSC, dual enrollment) BTW - You will be surprised at how much you remember and how much better you are at math than in high school. Final notes Stick with it.  Consistency is the key with math. Math may not be a good fit for block scheduling.