4 Ways to Improve Math Skills 

April is Mathematics Awareness Month 

Fractions, decimals, percentages, oh my! When it comes to numbers, formulas, and word problems, there’s something about math homework that is more difficult.  Some parents perpetuate myths about how they were just born “bad at math,” creating a false narrative for their children to simply accept that they’ve inherited their parent’s dyscalculia (which simply means “trouble with numbers”). Others expect more from one child, who may show an aptitude for geometry or algebra, while pushing a sibling to focus on other subjects like English, in hopes it will balance out less proficient math scores on the SATs.  

But what if instead, we focused on improving math skills for all students—not just those who enjoy the subject or naturally excel in it? Yes, it’s possible for nearly all children and teens to be not only competent but also master math. Consider these four resources to help your student destigmatize math, boost their skills in the subject, and possibly even pursue an advanced degree in it at some point in their education. 

1. Try game-based learning. 

Whether you’re counting Monopoly money during family game night or killing time in the dentist’s waiting room with a downloaded math app on your phone, game-based learning can provide some valuable practice time. Look for video games, apps, board games, websites, and pencil-and-paper booklets that boost logic & reasoning, computation skills, and numerical fluency. By taking math out of the classroom and adding gamification, students may not only pick up some new skills but also learn concepts early while enjoying gamification of the subject.   

2. Explore tutoring options. 

For students who excel in most classes but only struggle in math, it may be worth your time to look into customized math-only tutoring. The best programs can help your child get “caught up” to their peers, excel beyond their grade level, and/or develop a love for the subject. Look for programs that offer a spectrum of math-based offerings, like test prep, homework help, and one-on-one teaching of concepts and fundamental skills.   

3. Enroll in personal brain training. 

LearningRx’s MathRx program targets the underlying cognitive skills required to efficiently and effectively learn math concepts, solve problems, and perform mathematical calculations. Generally focused on non-academic exercises, these drills promote numerical fluency and executive function. That’s because students with math struggles tend to have deficiencies in these core mathematical skill areas.  

Research has shown that people with superior planning functions are able to master mathematical concepts with far greater ease, the challenging drills in the MathRx program incorporate higher-level planning components, as well as core cognitive components like memory, number strategy, attention, visual processing, inductive reasoning, and math comprehension. 

While tutoring redelivers information that was missed the first time, personal brain training makes learning, reading, memorizing, and performing easier by strengthening any core cognitive skills that may need a boost to help the student reach their full potential.  

All initial consultations at LearningRx begin with a Brain Skills Assessment to help determine which foundational brain skills (e.g., visual and auditory processing, memory, logic & reasoning, attention, and processing speed) are strong, and which are impeding students from achieving success at school.  

Using the results of the Brain Skills Assessment, LearningRx’s team of cognitive skills experts will design a program to target and strengthen any weak brain skills to make learning in any subject faster and easier. Your student will work with their personal brain trainer through the course of the program. Parents of graduates have called the results of one-on-one brain training “life-changing” and often, the first observable improvement is in the student’s confidence.  

Visit LearningRx.com to learn more about MathRx or general brain training for students who may be struggling in multiple subjects.  

 

4. Teach others math.

Few things help build a student’s confidence in a subject like helping others who are also struggling. Encourage your child or teen to assist a younger sibling with their math or enroll them in tutoring for a skill set you know they’ve mastered, such as times tables or geometry. Being a mentor may also take the stigma out of needing help for their own math struggles if you decide to enroll them in tutoring, personal brain training, or some other type of intervention down the road. 

It’s important to remember that the vast majority of students who struggle with math aren’t lazy, lacking the intelligence of their peers, or falling behind due to a bad teacher. They may suffer from difficulties with recall, organization, attention, visual-spatial aspects, multitasking, and/or sequencing multiple steps. If even one skill is weak, it can affect their proficiency in the subject. 

Don’t write your child’s struggles off as a lost cause. Get to the bottom of their specific issues surrounding the subject and put in the effort to learn more about how to get their math skills—and interest in the subject—back on track. It’s never too late to excel in math or enjoy the subject!