The Real Secret to Teaching Homeschool Algebra and Higher Math Inside: The real secret to Teaching Algebra in Homeschool. I’m a liar. What is worse? Getting caught by my 9th grader. Now, I never meant to lie, most surely I did not. I made a promise and got lazy. There I was, sitting next to my 9th grader explaining his algebra lesson for the day when I was suddenly caught in my lie. Crud. I had a sudden flashback to the time I broke a window as a little girl. I was about 5 years old and was throwing rocks at the corner of the house. I missed. Actually, I hit my mark. I intentionally threw the rock at the window and it shattered. Crud. I was five. I did not know I had the super-human ability to shatter glass! I ran inside to try to fix the broken glass (because I was five) and cut my finger. I was not only in trouble but dying from my wound. (yes, I was a drama queen). Of course, my mom saw through my lie when I told her I was not trying to break the window. She was gracious with me, but I still remember the guilt over 40 years later like it was yesterday. So there I was next to my son, stumbling over his lesson while trying to put up the front that I knew exactly what I was doing. I am the teacher after all. I couldn’t let him know I lied to him when I told him I would always be at least one lesson ahead of him in math (so I would not confuse the tar out of him). But there I was like Brer Rabbit stuck to the Tar Baby. (I love Uncle Remus. If you have never read these aloud to your kids you are missing out!) I had decided I had this “Algebra Thing” by the horns. And then I didn’t. How is the ratio of the volume of two figures related to the ratio of the corresponding sides of the figures? What?! I tried. I panicked. I was tempted to swear. And then I confessed. I had not even looked at the lesson before we sat down. I gave him a lighter math assignment and sent him on his way and then I repented of my sin. I found a quiet place and worked out the math. I may have shed blood, but I don’t want to freak out any of you who are still teaching your kids shapes. Finally, I figured it all out and I created my notes. I am happy to report that the next day I was able to happily teach my son about ratios being related to one another. Half way through the lesson I paused and said, “This is what it like to be taught by a teacher who is prepared. It’s better isn’t it?” He said, “Definitely!” Question: What is the Most Critical Mistake to Avoid when Teaching Algebra (or challenging subject) Answer: Faking itAs a Homeschooler, you may struggle with the math level your children are currently learning, but if you are no prepared you will frustrate them and set them up for failure. They may even just adopt our “You don’t need this skill to buy milk” attitude and never press into the subject. By being unprepared, we teach our kids it’s ok to do mediocre work. Yikes!Steps to Teaching Algebra (or other challenging Material) 1. Admit that it is challenging for you. Do not fake understanding. 2. Commit yourself to learning the material. I know. There is laundry in the living room, the baby needs their diaper changed, and dinner needs to be made before tomorrow’s breakfast. If you are going to teach the material, you need to understand the material. Set aside 30 minutes to study tomorrow’s math/challenging subject. Take notes Do the lesson (I do at least half of my son’s Algebra lesson before he does so I can explain it properly) Get help if needed. There are all kinds of online helps to assist you. Khan academy is one of my favorites. Work through the challenging material together. For instance, my son knows I do not remember chemistry or advanced biology. We work through the vocabulary and concepts together. But with math, I have to be a step ahead of him. Math is challenging enough without having your teacher say, “first, you do this. Wait, that’s not right, try this. Shoot, that didn’t work either.” 3. Get Help. If you simply cannot figure out how to do the material, you can get your kids tutors. Not all tutors need to cost you an arm and a leg. It’s not a crime to enroll your child in a high school or community college class either. Our local high school allows homeschoolers to take single classes. That’s a great option. Our local community college allows students to take their junior and senior high school classes and they earn both high school and college credit. When I tried to fake my way through my son’s Algebra lesson I really created quite a dramatic scene. He deserved better from me. Truth: Our kids may not all be learning Algebra and ratios today, but they do all deserve our best. I can’t say that I will never fail again because that would make me a repeat liar, but I am determined to be better prepared each day. How about you? Have you ever “lied” to your kids? Confession is good for the soul… Download your FREE “Math Concepts to Master Before Graduating High School” {Printable} Preview of the Heart of Homeschooling God’s Way Master Class. We need to STOP measuring success by grades, achievements, awards, and worksheets.
How to Teach a Topic You Hate Inside: The 6 things you need to remember when teaching something you think you hate. Plus a nifty {freebie} Trajectory is one of those concepts grouped in the “Who the Heck Cares” basket in my brain. “This guy cares about trajectory” Photo by NASA. It’s right there all snug as a bug in a rug next to solving algorithms, the chemistry of photosynthesis, and what age someone else’s toddler learned to drive their family car. We all need a “Who the Heck Cares” basket in our brain. … Read More »
Insanely Easy Ways to Teach Kids Math Inside: Practical Strategies for Teaching Math and a handy math printable This post may contain affiliate links. Crocodile tears are big. Crocodile tears are ugly. photo by Steven Arenas I remember the day my son cried huge crocodile tears because he had already spent two hours “doing math” and still wasn’t done. We had just made the big jump to homeschool and he was not thriving. Why? “I know I am explaining these concepts to you, so why can’t you “pound out the lesson” in two seconds flat.” It’s easy to expect too much from our kids. photo by Senjuti Kundu I really expected too much from my son. Download your FREE "Math Concepts to Master Before Graduating High School" {Printable} Don’t get me wrong, expectations are great. I am the queen of setting the bar high for my sons. But I was missing something critical. It turned out, he had made it all the way to 5th grade without mastering his math facts. After eating a big helping of guilty pie, we began working on fundamentals of math. (Click here for a 25 Minute Video Filled with Ideas to help you teach math) Great News if your Kids are behind: photo byEye for Ebony You can teach a 13-year-old a math concept in a day that they “should have learned” at an earlier age. So don’t panic if you suddenly realize they missed something. Simply identify the goal and create a learning strategy. Ask Yourself: Do you teach your child kindergarten, first grade, third-grade material… Or do you teach your child? Math Concepts and Skills by Age 3 Steps to teaching math facts Discover your child’s way of learning. I had to come face to face with that fact that my son learned differently than I do. His brain is wired differently. Math facts need to be memorized. Sorry. No way around this one. Actually, they need to be over-memorized. Practice over, and over, and over again. Examine your Own Math Mentality Do you hate math? Do you voice that to your children? Does math confuse you? Do you say things like, “I never could do math well,” rather than, “Hmmm, I do not remember how to do this right now, I guess my brain gets to exercise!” Many homeschoolers do not feel qualified to teach math, that’s OK. Instead learn it together! Discover the power of “yet”. Purpose to Speak Positively about Math “Math is everywhere!” “I’m glad I know how to add because that means I know _____.” “I like the challenge of math!” You get the idea. Get Help if you really Do Not Understand When you hit a math wall and simply cannot solve it in order to explain it to your child, seek help. Tell your student you need to have someone explain it to you. Affirm that there is always someone who is willing to help if you are humble enough to ask. Our kids need to see us ask for help! Here is a great online help for you and your kids. Related: Some Practical Math Resources Hands-On Math Activities Use Flash Cards Learn Fact Families Kids need to master facts as related groups. Creative Practice dry eraser markers on windows and mirrors sidewalk chalk pudding:) writing on sandpaper using magnetic numbers on fridge saying facts while playing ball, dancing, or rolling Math Fact Games Manipulatives Use anything from blocks and pattern tiles, Legos, Cheerios, M&M’s, and play games. “You grab 5 and I’ll give you 12 more, how many?” “If I make 4 groups of 3, how many will there be all together?” “Here are handfuls of snacks… divide them into 6 separate zip-lock baggies evenly.” Tip: Give kids time to explore manipulatives without giving them guidelines. I always let my kids “play” with new manipulatives a week or two before I use them in a lesson. Sources of Math Frustration: photo by ryan moreno Attitude: Sometimes it’s them… but sometimes it’s us. Curriculum. Curriculum causes so many issues. We feel our kids need to “get it” and be able to move forward from concept to concept. Page 27 means nothing. It’s like expecting a child to read a book but they only know 11 letters and sounds of the alphabet. Remember curriculum is a tool, not the goal. *Establish a clear math goal (or set of goals) for your student and use the curriculum to help you get there. That may mean you skip pages, even chapters of the book! Relief: There are only 3 types of math for most kids to master by high school: Arithmetic- number sense Algebra- equations Geometry- triangles, angles, etc Guilt. Comparing your kids to mine, hers or theirs. Asking, “Shouldn’t my child be at grade level?” (This is a futile question…) I feel like a failure because I barely can complete the fourth-grade math book without an answer key! Guilt binds us. We need to release it. Curriculum doesn’t teach our kids. We teach our kids and sometimes we may even a use curriculum. More ideas: Count everything. Work on facts daily. Print a bunch of math fact drill sheets and do timed drills (if they at least tolerate them I have one child that drills devastate. for some reason a timed drill shuts his brain down.) Do Car math: Ask math fact questions while running errands Bake Measure things with rulers, measuring tapes, straws, bananas Go to the store and pretend (or really buy) as many things as possible with $100. Lastly, it is important to remember that not all of our kids are destined to be mathematicians. That’s OK. But everyone really needs to know their basic math facts inside out. Focus on the basics and build your math program around fundamentals. Don’t rush your young children. If they master their facts they will be well ahead of their peers in the end and you can help avoid those crocodile tears. Preview of the Heart of Homeschooling God’s Way Master Class. We need to STOP measuring success by grades, achievements, awards, and worksheets.