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| Math Articles |  |
When Homeschooling Is Over Your Head! Many well intentioned parents started out homeschooling their Kindergarten child. Teaching a small child basic math skills is pretty simple to most parents even if they were never really strong in math. However, what about when that sweet little five year old needs a Trigonometry or Calculus teacher? Some parents are faced with this challenge sooner than they expected.
Advanced math classes are not subjects that you can leave to a teenager to figure out on his or her own. They require a great deal of instruction and guided practice. It is time to recognize the need to expand your homeschool horizons and reach out for additional instructional assistance.
There are several very reasonable options available to the parent who has acted as a teacher. One relatively new option is offered through many private schools. They will allow your child to take a class at their school without being enrolled as a full time student. Several of these schools offer an entire program of part-time study for the alternatively educated student. This comes in very handy for your college-minded teenager who is need of advanced placement credit.
Community Colleges are also now offering classes for homeschoolers. These classes are listed as Continuing Education so they do not require traditional college enrollment. They are very effective in offering students classes that their parents are uncomfortable teaching.
Private tutors are another excellent option. Ideally, you can find a certified teacher who is qualified to teach the advanced class. Hire the tutor to teach the student the curriculum and keep the child on track. Tutors can come to your home or meet you in a more public location like the library. It is also a good idea to find someone who is willing to stick with you through the next challenging courses on the horizon. This consistency can be very helpful as your child advances in his or her chosen program of study.
Finally, there are other homeschooling parents out there who have developed networks to help each other through these difficult classes. Parents offer their assistance based on their area of expertise. For instance, a Dad who is really strong in Civics could put a group of students together for an advanced government class. While a Mom in the same group who is a former Calculus teacher can help this group of students by teaching them Advanced Mathematics. This barter system can be found in many communities. It is important to join your local homeschool organization to find out what is available in your area.
Homeschooling is a challenging endeavor. Make sure that you do not hesitate to reach out for help when you need it. Your child can have a diverse and challenging educational experience that prepares him or her for college and beyond.
Math Games You Already Have!
Contrary to common belief, you do not have to spend a lot of money on educational software and games to enhance your child’s math skills. There are several game pieces and tools that you probably already have at home that are quite effective in reinforcing basic and advanced math skills. All it takes is a little imagination and a desire to make math fun!
One such idea is great for very young children. A simple game of WAR can help your little child practice comparing whole numbers. Take a regular deck of cards. Remove the face cards and the aces from the deck. Let the child deal out all of the cards and then play using the normal rules for WAR. Both players put their cards in a stack face down in front of them. Each player takes a card from the top of their deck and puts it down. The player with the higher number gets to take the cards. The winner is the one who is left holding all of the cards. For an older child that is learning about integers, you can modify this game by making the red cards negative and using the same rules.
Another game that is great for children who need practice with their multiplication facts just requires a set of two dice, paper, and pencil. Each player will roll the dice. They will multiply the two numbers that they get. The player with the highest number gets that number added to their score. Play can continue until one player reaches a set number. The first player to this target is the winner. This is great not only for multiplication help, but the addition required to keep score is also great practice.
Do not forget about games that you already have that provide excellent mathematics practice. Yahtzee, Monopoly, and Sorry are all examples of games that require you to dust off your math skills in order to play them.
Children unfortunately relate math to boring worksheets and endless homework assignments. Creating family fun time that also incorporates math skills is an excellent way to provide quality math practice time, while helping them build their confidence in their own math abilities. Math can be a very fun, daily, activity. Happy Calculating!
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