As a parent, you may have wondered why some kids in school perform well in answering math problems while other don’t. If you would like your child to improve their performance in math, you actually can do something to help. Here are some tips you can use to help your kids solve math problems easily and quickly.
1. Encourage your child to be inquisitive and ask questions.
An inquisitive mind is an open mind. In math, your child should not only understand concepts, but he needs to understand them well. There should be no gaps in knowledge. Thus, it is very important to establish in your child the virtue of asking questions.
2. Train your child to comprehend word problems quickly. The first most important step in solving math problems is understanding. Your child should understand all the details presented in the problem. He should quickly grasp which information is given and which he needs to solve for.
3. Teach your child to immediately recognize the “key words”. The most crucial step in answering math problems is translating the problem into a mathematical expression. To do this, your child must familiarize himself with key words and hints that translate to certain operations. For example, “per” should denote division and “how fast” should have something to do with speed (which is distance divided by time).
4. Encourage him to draw a picture. Illustrations and diagrams help a lot. It can help your child understand the problem in a better perspective. It also shortens the time needed to understand what is going on. Your child will also better visualize how he can use the information given to solve for what is needed.
5. Break down difficult problems into parts. When faced with more complicated math problems, your child can be easily confused. To deal with this, teach your child to take it one step at a time. Teach him how he can break down the problem into sections. Each section would correspond to a certain mathematical expression, and how each part contributes to a whole. Remember that difficult word problems are not meant to be solve with one giant leap.
6. Practice everyday. The best virtue you can instill in your child is the virtue of diligence. Math is a subject where perfection can be attained with constant practice. Make it a positive, encouraging experience even if it becomes a chore after a long day at school. Practicing will give him a wide grasp of the concept, hone his problem solving strategies, and improve his time management skills.
Of course, do remember that in math, haste does makes waste as well. However, if you do everything quickly yet carefully, there is no reason for your child not to get the right answer.
Lastly, bear in mind that as a parent, an active participation in your child’s math education is needed. If you want your child to improve his ability in solving math problems, showing all out support will surely go a long way.
John a math site which offers thousands of solved math problems, with detailed answers
