Maths Teaching Primary

A Guide to Choosing a Math Curriculum

It's no secret that teaching math is one of the big fears for people thinking about homeschooling. In fact, if you research homeschool terms on the web, you will find that "homeschool math curriculum" is perhaps the most regularly employed search terms on the web! Obviously there's a demand for folks looking for the proper math curriculum. So, what are the things you'll want to consider when evaluating the various math curriculum available?

What's Your Child's Learning Style?

You will find several different math curriculum out there that employ varying educational philosophies. So recognizing your student's natural learning style is essential in determining the very best math curriculum for them. What are the main learning styles? Visual Learners, Auditory Learners and Kinesthetic (or Tactile) Learners.

Visual Learners learn through seeing. Auditory learners learn via listening. This way of learning finds a learning environment most successful when it allows for hand's on activity and exploring the physical world. So what does that have to do with a homeschool math curriculum? Well you will discover a variety of homeschool math curriculum resources out there to suit every learning style. Begin by evaluating what math curriculum has the features that meet the needs of your student's style, for instance manipulatives, books with pictures and diagrams, instructional videos, CDs, flash cards, etc. Curriculum Teaching Method

Your 2nd primary factor in choosing a math curriculum is the teaching philosophy. The mastery method is basically an approach of teaching where students master 1 concept just before moving on to another level. A more modern educational philosophy is the spiral approach, sometimes known as "fuzzy math" in which new concepts are introduced simultaneously and students eventually grasp concepts as they go. The Teacher's Style

Is math challenging for you or have you got a strong background in math concepts and are you comfortable teaching the subject? Maybe you're one who likes math and who is really comfortable teaching math. Up to here, I've focused much more on those that actually require a curriculum to help with math education. Your child or student's education will be much more determined by you than by the curriculum you make use of. A teacher who understands their student's learning styles and aptitudes can take even a mediocre curriculum and make a great encounter out of it. If math's not your factor, then yes your curriculum selection will probably be much more critical, but here's a word of advice. Even if math is tough for you, do not assume it will be tough for your youngsters. Math can be a challenging subject to learn for both children and their parents. Children often meet learning barriers that block their progress and receiving help at home can give your child the Math skills they need to succeed. Don't underestimate the value of your time and effort in your child's education, just twenty to forty minutes a day will make a difference in your child's understanding of Math. Many parents lack confidence in Math, and it's important not to express your negative feelings about the subject to your child. Children can be intimidated by Math especially if they are struggling to develop key skills. Any negative views may strengthen their fear of learning Math; children's ability to learn is greatly influenced by their self-confidence. A fear of getting the answer wrong is common among children so encourage your child to try again, (if necessary at a later date). Remind your child that practice does make perfect and each lesson counts.

If you are unsure about a Math topic, research it before you give your child any help. Do not put pressure on your child, they will not learn if feeling anxious or upset. Math is a progressive subject and foundation Math skills are vital if your child is to progress successfully to more advanced Math. Ensure that your child understands these Math facts before attempting to progress to further areas.

Homework

Your child may have been given some Math homework that they are very negative about or worried about completing. For example, the homework problems require multiplication and division to be performed and your child is struggling with basic division. Give your child some lessons on division to remind them of the basics before attempting the homework. Homework can also be an issue for parents and children especially if parents are unsure about Math. As mentioned previously, if your child brings home schoolwork and you don't like Math try not to let them know. If you are unsure about the homework, take a look at it alone before trying to help your child. Educational Aids

Remember that it's important to choose the correct level for your child. Software is a sensible and novel way to teach Math effectively, especially when there are funny characters and colourful graphics. Math is a subject which is liked by very few people. Here are few ways in which kids can learn basic math like addition and subtraction using the interactive whiteboard resources.

To teach math, firstly the teachers should create plans by which they can develop interest in children to learn math. Let's read how to teach addition in math to kids.

Teachers can use images or pictures to show addition. Students start counting the oranges and find the answer. The teacher can repeat the activity till all the students have understood the method.

Similarly teachers can incorporate stories to explain others methods in math.