Middle School Math: A Parent’s Survival Guide
Middle school is often a difficult time for students. Factor in middle school math and it can seem downright impossible.
At Northside Christian Academy, we strive to create a smooth transition from the concrete mathematics taught in elementary school to the more abstract algebraic concepts taught in later years. Beginning in Grade 6 and continuing through Grade 8, our experienced math educators work with students to introduce the fundamental concepts associated with algebra, while also honing students’ spatial reasoning skills, in a fresh new way.
However, our teachers still see many parents struggle to explain to their children why the math they used to find so fun is now so frustrating.
From integers to algebraic equations, help your child successfully navigate through middle school math (and perhaps even begin to enjoy it) with these clever tips from the staff at our private middle school in Charlotte, N.C.:
Don’t just provide the answer.
Because no parent wants to see their child frustrated and discouraged, it can be tempting to simply supply the correct answer to a difficult math problem. However, the path to math success doesn’t just mean having the right answers, but also understanding why and how to get there. By guiding your child through the problem, rather than providing a shortcut to get there, you are helping them formulate the connections they will need to understand not only what the question is asking, but also the best way to approach the solution.
Make use of your resources.
Taking notes in class and applying those notes to a given task is often a new concept for middle schoolers. Encourage your child to pull out their class notes, textbooks and any other resources they might need to complete a math problem. If stuck, they will likely be able to find a similar problem amongst these resources to help them move forward.
Pan out to the bigger picture.
Shifting your child’s focus from memorizing the steps of a mathematical procedure to understanding the “why” of the concept at hand will put both the question and its solution into perspective. While context is important in English and Language Arts, it’s a vital part of learning math concepts, too.
Highlight, underline, scribble…whatever works!
Encourage your child to do whatever it takes to make the question clearer. Create circles. Color code with a highlighter. Discover which math method works best for your student. This is a particularly handy technique with word or situational math problems. After all, knowing what to focus on in a word problem is often the first step towards the solution.
Take it to the teacher.
Middle school is filled with change and transition, and middle school math is no different. With that in mind, the teaching staff at our private middle school in Charlotte, N.C., offers face-to-face tutoring time with each student. Northside’s small class sizes make this one-on-one student-teacher time a promise, rather than a mere possibility.
School is almost back in session! If you are interested in learning about our private middle school in Charlotte, N.C., call Northside Christian Academy today at (704) 596-4074 or submit an online information request.