How to help with homeschool math

Tips from a math tutor for parents who need help with homeschool math.

headshot of amber watkins #2

Author
Amber Watkins

Published
April 2024

How to help with homeschool math

Tips from a math tutor for parents who need help with homeschool math.

headshot of amber watkins #2

Author
Amber Watkins

Published
April 2024

How to help with homeschool math

Tips from a math tutor for parents who need help with homeschool math.

headshot of amber watkins #2

Author
Amber Watkins

Published
April 2024

Key takeaways

  • Together we will discuss how to choose a homeschool math curriculum and set a sturdy schedule
  • I will share my best tutoring advice on how to know when it’s time to progress to a new math topic and when extra assistance is needed
  • Finally, we will talk about how incorporating reading & technology takes homeschool math help to the next level

So you recently decided to begin a homeschool journey with your child. 

You weighed the pros and cons, assessed the times it takes, and mentally prepared yourself for the possible rocky journey ahead of you. 

Well, the educators here at Doodle Learning want to extend to you a hearty welcome! 

You now share the privilege of expanding your reach from just a few hours of homework help to being a full hands-on homeschool teacher. 

You may still have some questions about how to choose the right homeschool math curriculum. You also may feel a bit uneasy about how to help with homeschool math, or simply need guidance on where to begin. We’re here to help you!

Choose the right homeschool math curriculum

Start by choosing the right homeschool math curriculum for your child. This is the most important factor as to whether your homeschool math journey will be a rocky road or smooth sailing. 

There are many math resources to find online. How to decide what homeschool math curriculum is best for your child?

  1. First, I would recommend looking up your state’s home education requirements to see if there are any specific rules to follow when choosing your child’s homeschool math curriculum. Adhere closely to their guidelines.
  2. Second, make sure the math resources you choose have plenty of math topics, math guides for each grade, and articles that emphasize the four main math concepts of multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction.
  3. Finally, make sure to choose a math curriculum that incorporates technology. We will discuss later in this article why incorporating game-based learning and technology in your math education is so important.

Stick to a homeschool math schedule

Now that you’ve chosen your homeschool math curriculum, you must set up a schedule that works! Many parents who provide homeschool math help have seen the advantages of having a set time each day to work on school work. This helps your child stay in the school mentality. 

Choose level-appropriate study material

Tutoring students in many grade levels has helped me appreciate that just because a child is in a certain grade, doesn’t mean they are learning at that grade level. You may have a child in third-grade math that is learning at a fourth-grade math level or even below grade level. 

How do you determine what math level your child is learning at currently?I recommend getting familiar with the state standards for each grade level and if you notice your child is struggling with the topics outlined there, you may need to reteach some concepts from the previous grade before you can advance. If you notice your child is excelling with little effort, consider progressing to the next grade level. 

To get your started, we’ve compiled the Common Core math standards for each grade:

Learn when to move forward & when to reteach

As a tutor, I have learned the art of knowing when it is okay to move on to the next math topic (within each grade level) and when extra assistance is needed. At the end of each lesson, I use ten math problems to test each child’s understanding. You can do this, too!

  • If you test your child’s understanding with ten questions and they get 6-7 problems right – spend a bit more time reviewing with them
  • If you test your child’s understanding and they score 5 or below- reteach the lesson
  • If you test your child’s understanding and they score 8 or above- move on to the next lesson.

Incorporate as much reading as possible

Math problems involve a ton of reading! Whenever I’m helping a child who is struggling with math word problems, they are usually also struggling with reading. So, how to help with homeschool math? One of the best ways is to help your child become a better reader. 

  • Take time each day to read with your child 
  • Incorporate math word problems appropriate for their math level in every lesson or as much as possibleHave your child read the word problems aloud and correct their reading as they do.

Utilize technology for providing homeschool math help

Many parents want to limit how much screen time their child gets. At Doodle Learning, we couldn’t agree more! But there also can be a balance. Technology has proven to be a very useful tool in math education when used effectively. 

How can you incorporate technology into your homeschool lessons:

  • Include math videos to teach homeschooled math topics
  • Make use of math games to reinforce learning & to help your child have fun
  • Math apps designed by educators can provide feedback & scaffolding to your child’s learning

Prepare your child for yearly math assessments

Most states require your child to be assessed at the end of each year. Sometimes, this involves a professional coming to your home to see what you’ve been doing to teach your child at home. I recommend the following tips to prepare for yearly assessment:

  • Keep an active diary of the work you are doing with your child each week. Include what topic you taught and any work they did. 
  • Keep a few worksheets you used to teach your child
  • Consider using a math app that tracks your child’s progress so the professional can see your child is actively practicing math concepts and even improving

Helping with homeschool math won’t always be easy, but it will always be worth it. Your fellow educators at Doodle Learning are here to help and are always just one click away!

Lesson credits

headshot of amber watkins #2

Amber Watkins

Amber is an education specialist with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She has over 12 years of experience teaching and tutoring elementary through college level math. "Knowing that my work in math education makes such an impact leaves me with an indescribable feeling of pride and joy!"

headshot of amber watkins #2

Amber Watkins

Amber is an education specialist with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She has over 12 years of experience teaching and tutoring elementary through college level math. "Knowing that my work in math education makes such an impact leaves me with an indescribable feeling of pride and joy!"

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