What are the best ways to teach math to kids?
Many people regard mathematics as one of the most difficult subjects. However, some find it to be a great scoring subject. In fact, some students claim that they can easily score 100/100 (or full marks) in math as compared to other subjects. Mathematics can be both the most difficult and the easiest subject, depending on your strategy and hard work.
Some people argue that by insisting on math as a joyful, creative exploration, we are harming children. Moreover, by reducing or eliminating memorization and math drills, we are preparing children, for a lack of mathematical fluency.
It’s simple to get your child to think mathematically, whether you’re homeschooling or just want to give your child a head start on math. The key is to approach it in the same way you would a book. That is, try to talk about math with your child every day, just as you try to read to your child every day. You can also sit down and become more serious about certain topics, as well as ensure that the games your child is playing include math.
Maths is as simple as 1+1=2 to teach your children math. Make math a fun learning experience for you and your children by going beyond a traditional pencil and paper approach. The following simple strategies will help you teach your children math and turn them into mini mathematicians.
Emphasize on Counting
Mathematics begins with your child’s understanding of numbers. You can teach them to count using the same strategies you’ll use to teach them math. Children may respond better to memorising numbers that you repeat or to seeing you count objects from one to ten. Begin by teaching basic counting skills through the use of blocks. Math can be turned into a game for them rather than a chore. A method that works for one of your children may not work for another. Evaluate each child on an individual basis. When your child starts counting, you’re ready to introduce some fundamental math concepts. Before you know it, they’ll be adding and subtracting.
Use Everyday Objects
Keep everything you’d need to start teaching your child math close and ready – Buttons, pennies, money, books, fruit, soup cans, trees, toy cars, anything and everything that might be of use to teach. It’s easy to teach maths when you consider using specific physical objects that can be counted, added, subtracted, and multiplied. Different objects around you can also help your child learn that all objects do not have to be identical to be important in math! Counting apples is a great math lesson, but counting apples, oranges, and watermelons together broaden the mind. Instead of playing a routine numbers game of 1, 2, 3, the child is connecting counting with various objects.
Explore numbers with kids
Encourage children to use, work with, and explore numbers,” a process that eventually develops critical number sense and reinforces math facts in a more natural way.
Make Math a Daily Activity
Incorporate math into your daily routine. Help your child get the most out of his or her math lessons by incorporating them into your daily life and setting achievable goals.
Personal Engagement
Engage them in a chat with you so as to explain why they should learn a specific topic.
Play Math Games
There are numerous games on the market that can help you teach math. Hi Ho Cherry-O and adding dice to teach basic addition. Chutes and Ladders is a game that teaches children the numbers 1 to 100. Advanced math board games come and go, so keep an eye out for the latest releases. Classic games such as Yahtzee, PayDay, Life, and Monopoly are excellent resources for addition and subtraction. You could use innovative math games to help children run in the direction of a function, and the first one to reach the desired location could be declared a winner.
Cook with Kids
Soft cookies are fantastic teaching tools. While you can count your cookies, pancakes, bread loaves, tortillas, chapatis, for simple math, a fresh batch is also ideal for teaching fractions. Children can learn how to cut a cookie into eighths, fourths, and halves using a plastic knife. A child’s mind is imprinted by the act of visually seeing a fourth created as well as having the opportunity to cut that whole into fourths. Teach your child how to add and subtract fractions using those small cookie pieces. For instance, 1/4 of a cookie plus 1/4 of a cookie equals 1/2 of a cookie. Assemble the pieces so that they can see the cookie half. Use raw cookie dough or make your own play-dough as an alternative to baking cookies. Of course, once you’ve finished learning math, you can’t eat your fractions, but you can reuse the cookie dough or moulding clay.
Introduce Abacus
Even the tiniest hands enjoy moving the abacus beads back and forth along the wire. An abacus can help children learn addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Kids can practise problem-solving skills by using an abacus. There is a logic to using an abacus, so make sure you understand what group of numbers each coloured bead represents before using it.
Use Flashcards
Flashcards can show you what 2+2 equals, but allowing kids to count on their own may be more effective. Try both flashcards and hands-on experience to determine your child’s learning preferences. Some children learn better when they can see the answer on a card or when they can count the pictures on a card. Others will not fully grasp the concept of math until they are allowed to count physical objects. Change up your math lessons to see which method works best for your child.
Create an effective, open-to-discussion environment.
Begin by outlining the class agenda and maintain an open platform where all students can ask questions freely. It’s inevitable that students will need time to grasp mathematical concepts. Therefore, give them appropriate feedback, enough practise assignments, doubt-clearing sessions, and revision papers.
Introduce topics with relevant examples
Mathematics is a subject that can be visualised and compared to real life. As a result, teachers can devise creative methods, such as images or videos, to teach math to students in an engaging manner. Topics with examples can illustrate problem sets by having children visualise the practical application of what is mentioned in the problem.
Show a child numerous choices available to demystify the same problem
The problem sets given in maths can be solved in multiple ways. Therefore as a teacher, you should teach the students all the possible ways of solving a problem.
Not every student will grasp and understand the same method of coming to a solution. Therefore, it must be an open platform wherein the students are given an option to understand the most relevant approach towards coming to a solution.
Encourage reasoning
Encourage students for reasoning when solving problems In order to determine that every student has actually learned the objective of a class, it is necessary that every student communicate both orally and in writing with the proper reason. Reasoning gives a proper idea about the understanding of the student about the concept. This will promote their engagement and learning.
Finally,
Finish the class by summarizing the lesson giving practise questions. Mathematics is a subject that requires consistent practice. There are no shortcuts to learning.
Use questions such as below to get the child’s brain to spring in action.
How many blue cars do you see at a red light?
How many boxes of crackers could we buy at the grocery store if we had 100 bucks?
How many children will be left in the waiting room at the doctor’s office when three are called to the back?
How much of our lunch would be leftover if we only ate a quarter of it?
What will diapers cost if they are 25% off?
How much do the numbers on the licence plate in front of us add up to on the freeway?
How many shirts do you have in the washing machine?
How many quarters would each person receive if you needed to divide eight quarters among four people at the arcade?
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