Do Poor Math Skills Harm Your Child’s Confidence?

Do Poor Grades Reflect Low Self Esteem?

Performing poorly in any subject can be a confidence obliterator for pupils of any age. Not understanding material can make a class seem impossible and could cause the student to lose motivation which could reflect in the pupil’s grades. Why does it always seem to be math is the one subject not only adolescents struggle with but grown adults as well. You’ll hear it in any restaurant as a patron fumbles with the check trying to do mental math to calculate the tip “Sorry I’m bad at math”.

Math is such an important skill contributing to career fields such as science, technology, medical and so many more high-paying jobs. All professions which require high levels of confidence.

            Studies show, when it comes to student achievement, non-cognitive skills like confidence, grit and self-control can have a big impact. These specific skills can help students, particularly those at-risk of failing, to persist academically. One study of fourth- through eighth-graders demonstrated that self-regulation was a better predictor of report card improvements than IQ. Many students who struggle in math are not only struggling to solve algebraic expressions; they’re also questioning their ability to ever do so in more simpler terms. By continuously trying and failing to solve these problems, it puts the pupil’s own intelligence into question. “Why can everyone but me solve this”, “Maybe I’m just dumb”. This lack of confidence can potentially be more damaging to students’ success than any other academic challenges that arise in their educational experience.

            With fear of being wrong, many students will retract into themselves during class time. Refusing to answer questions or be participate during class discussions. Why would a student want to shout out an answer they believed to be wrong? No one ever wants to be wrong, it’s embarrassing. Lacking such confidence can deter a student’s drive to continue their path to higher education. What students fail to realize is sometimes it’s not their fault. Not understanding material can be caused by a variety of reasons, one being an incompatible teacher. We’ve all had teachers that we have found difficult to learn from. Not having that connection can be a serious issue with a pupil’s success. Not all students and teachers are the perfect match, whether it be a language barrier or teaching style, switching instructors, or getting help from an additional source which you “get” can make the difference.

            We as a nation should strive to never hear the phrase “Sorry, I’m bad at math” again. By building confidence in students at a young age, improvement will be seen not only in the classroom but how they carry themselves as a person. Improving a student’s math skills will help them in their daily lives, but also assist in furthering their education thus boosting the chance of securing a higher paying career. Mathnasium has a unique program suited for kids of all ages and stages of math learning. Call or come in to learn more. http://www.mathnasium.com/peachtreecity

ADHD Study Techniques

Easy Study Techniques for Students with ADHD

Dealing with ADHD as a student can be a struggle unless you know and have the right studying techniques. Those with this disorder know that having the self-control to stay focused is nearly impossible. Your mind is going a million miles per minute bouncing here there and everywhere. Thankfully, there are 8 tips to help students with this condition learn a bit easier and they are: 

1. Exercise: Believe it or not exercising before classes or sitting down to study is essential for students with ADHD. It helps them burn off that extract bit of energy and focuses the mind. 
2. Breathe in Calming Aromas: If you have ADHD you know that smell is a powerful weapon against studying or the perfect remedy to help you stay focused. Some that help release stress and help students with this disorder stay focused are: peppermint, lavender, lemongrass and orange peel. 
3. Sip Sugary Drinks: One of the most common remedies students use before studying is sipping on a sugary beverage before or during studying times. It may seem counter-intuitive, as I had always thought sugar makes you hyper. That’s what my mother always said. This is because it provides the brain with glucose an ingredient that fuels the brain so it can function and stay focused on the task at hand.
4. Take Breaks in Between Studying:  One of the best tips you can use if you struggle with ADHD is taking breaks in between studying. It helps refocus the mind and burns unnecessary energy.
5. Create a Space Specific for Homework: The environment a student with ADHD plays a dramatic part in how they perform. At home and at school students with this disorder need a homework studying spot specifically for them that contains no distractions.
6. Design a Studying Schedule: Students with ADHD always think clearly when they have a designed studying schedule that works for them. This is because they are able to get their minds prepared properly for their slotted studying hours.
7. Know When to Stop: Knowing when to stop studying with ADHD is essential for keeping positive studying habits. If you keep pushing yourself to study when you become frustrated, going back to studying can cause hatred for studying. 
8. Stay Moving: Whether you spin a fidget spinner or squish a stress ball while studying if it helps you stay focused and studying for as long as possible keep doing it. Heck, sit on a yoga ball and keep moving if that does the trick.

Regardless if there is a diagnosed disorder, these 8 tips can help any student stay focused on the task at hand, they do the trick for adults at work too, try it out. If you are finding that your child spends adequate amounts of time studying and math grades are not improving, check out Mathnasium’s unique methods to address each child’s learning goals.

Go From Hating to Loving Math

How can I get my child to appreciate math?

Math is one of those subjects that some students love and are very good at and other students greatly dislike and struggle with. It may be more difficult to help a struggling child understand the value of math and teach them to appreciate math as a life skill. Here are some ways you can help your child understand the importance of math.

Money

 Most kids especially teens are interested in having and earning money. Use this as a teaching tool for math. Help them open a bank account and maintain a savings register. You can also have your child calculate interest and deposits and with drawls. If they are saving up money for an item have them keep track of how close they get to their goal.

Use math in everyday life

 Math is utilized in a variety of ways in our daily lives. Whether it’s looking at the weather forecast, telling time or even a shopping trip you can highlight the ways math is being used.

Share how you use math as an adult

 If you are using math in your everyday life for creating and maintaining a budget, following recipes, even tracking expenses and savings make your child aware. When they see you utilizing math regularly they will understand its importance in daily lives.

Point out careers that use need math skills

 There are obvious careers that require math such as accounting, engineering, and the sciences. However, math skills are a requirement for many types of jobs. If you are a business owner you must be able to track expenses and keep a budget. Real estate agents use math every day when making deals. Even a landscape designer or carpenter need math skills to do their job. There really is no job that doesn’t require some type of math skills.

By pointing out the math in everyday life you can get your child to have a better appreciation for this difficult subject. Your child may never be a math whiz or love doing their math homework however by having a better understanding of the ways math is used in life can help them do better. If your child is struggling in math call the experts at Mathnasium.

How Parental Support and Math Tutoring Go Hand in Hand

Parental support plays in important role in the math tutoring process. Knowing how to support your child will go a long way to your student’s success. Here are a few ways that you can help support your student while they are being tutored.

Supervise scheduling

 Your child will have weekly tutoring appointments to keep track of in addition to daily homework assignments and projects.   Help your child set up a schedule and monitor their progress regularly so they keep on track.

Be supportive

 Busy schedules and difficult math homework can be stressful for any child. Be supportive and let them know that you recognize their efforts and that you are proud of them for their accomplishments. Also tell them that you are there to support them should they become frustrated.

Be reasonable

 Adding tutoring to your child’s busy schedule can cause you want to remove an extracurricular activity from their hectic week.   However this does not mean that you should.   Be realistic and set reasonable expectations. Keeping socialization and extracurricular activities in your child’s schedule is important to help create a balance.

Collaborate

You sought out tutoring because your child needs help and you are able to provide. However this does not mean that you should no longer be involved.  Keep open lines of communication with your child’s tutor and be aware of their progress.  You should also incorporate math skills into everyday life. Having your child use math skills outside of school and tutoring sessions on a regular basis will help them succeed and become a lifelong learner.

Be a positive example

 Many students find it difficult to admit and deal with needing help. Support your child by being a good example. Clueing your child in on times where you struggled and needed help in school or even during your work life will help them feel supported. Also let them know how you dealt with overcoming your struggles. Hearing success stories of perseverance directly from you will be great encouragement. 

Being a supportive parent during the tutoring process is very important. Help your child create and maintain their schedule and continue to allow time for extracurricular activities and social time. Collaborating with your tutor and sharing stories of your own struggles will go a long way to help your child's success in math. If you are looking for a great math tutoring program that will meet your child’s specific needs look no further than the math experts at Mathnasium. We can be reached at (770) 487-4401

5 Signs Your Child Needs a Math Tutor

How do I know if my child needs math tutoring?

Do you dread long evenings of frustration, arguing or even tears over your child's math homework? Are you just as confused as your child when you try to help them? If so then a math tutor is a great solution. Here are the top five signs to help you know if your child could greatly benefit from a math tutor.

Falling behind

As with most subjects in school math is taught by following a curriculum. The instructor must follow the daily or weekly lesson plans in order to cover the required math topics throughout the year. If you your child has fallen behind in comprehension of these topics it is likely that the teacher will not be able to stop moving on. This could create a situation where your child falls behind on skills. Math is also the type of subject where skills build upon each other. Your child will be behind very quickly. Out of school tutoring can help your child stay on track with their class in school.

 Self confidence

Students who struggle in school subjects often have a lack of self-confidence. Another way sign that your child could use math tutoring is that they have low self-confidence and anxiety about math. Giving your kid the extra help that they need will not only help them improve their grades but it will improve their confidence levels as well.

Number facts recall

Does your child struggle to recall basic number facts in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division? All facets of math involved knowing basic number facts. If your child has issues with knowing their basic facts that they are going to struggle moving forward. Tutoring can help your child learn the basic number facts which will help them moving forward.

Struggling with homework

One of the clearest signs that your child needs a math tutor is homework struggles. If your child is spending more than the recommended time on homework each night and you are finding it difficult to help then it's this is a sign that it's time for tonight. Students learn that much differently than their parents did. Tutor will be able to help your child efficiently and effectively.

Poor recall

If your child is having trouble recalling the information and topics that they have learned previously then a tutor could be useful. This is a sign that they could use extra help. Whether it's due to a lack of comprehension of the prior topic or too much time between topics your child could be struggling. A tutor can help them stay on track.

If your child is struggling, falling behind, having trouble completing her homework or having difficulty with basic number fax then these are all clear signs that you need a tutor. The experts at Mathnasium can design a plan for your child to help them improve their math skills. Give us a call or visit our website and take our free assessment: (770) 487-4401 

http://www.mathnasium.com/peachtreecity

5 Reasons Your Child Needs Math Tutoring this Summer

Top reasons for summer math tutoring

The school year has ended and you are probably in the midst of planning vacations, camps and other activities for your child. One of the things that you don't want to forget to include is summer tutoring. You may think that because school is not in session why does my child need tutoring? Well here are six great reasons for summer tutoring.

Help retain skills

With summer’s downtime your child may experience loss of learning of the skills from the previous school year. In order to prevent this loss it is a great idea to continue learning throughout the summer.

Build confidence

If your child has struggled in math before summer is a great time to help them build confidence in their skills. If your child gets tutoring this summer they will return to school fully confident in their skills for the upcoming year.

Prepare for next year

Each year the math curriculum seems to get more difficult. Summer is a great time to give your child a head start on next year’s material to minimize their difficulty.

Catch up

If your child struggled all school year the summer is a great time for them to master the skills that they did not acquire. The stress-free days of summer will allow your child to focus on the math skills that they did not understand during the school year.

Continues a routine

Summer days can be lackadaisical and unscheduled. For some children this can become an issue. By keeping a routine with scheduled tutoring sessions you will have structure and an academic routine during the summer.

You can't go wrong with summer math tutoring. It will benefit your student in numerous ways. Call Mathnasium today to schedule tutoring for your child this summer.