5 Ways to Help Your Children Prepare for High School Math

Students about to enter high school need to be prepared for plenty of changes. Subjects are often taught at a faster pace and with broader and deeper topics and concepts.

Math is one of the subjects that many first-year high school students may have difficulties in. The different fields and topics can be tough, and these will demand skills, focus, and great imagination.

If your children are about to start high school and are already voicing their worries regarding the math subjects they have to take, one of the first things you can do to help ease their fears is to talk to them about what they can expect once the school year starts.

If you and your kids are already enrolled or have agreed on which school to go to, speak with the guidance counselor, subject coordinators, or even the math teachers themselves to find out what concepts and topics they will likely learn.

You don’t need to get the details; an overview of the lessons they will teach can help you and your kids create a plan to prepare well in advance.

Once you have this information, you can help your children feel less anxious and be more confident about the upcoming school year by following these tips:

1. Enroll your children in a high school math prep class

If your children are vocal about their worries, signing them up for customized math classes that will help them be prepared for high school mathematics is one of the best solutions you can consider.

When preparing your children for the rigors of high school mathematics, you might consider professional GCSE Maths online tutoring. Many online platforms offer expert guidance from qualified teachers who can help strengthen foundational concepts and ease anxieties about math-intensive subjects.

For your children’s summer holiday, look for a learning center that provides an educational summer camp with personalized math tutorial classes. Discuss with the tutor what lessons your kids are likely to take in the coming school year.

You can also ask the tutor what lessons they can provide that will help your children be prepared for high school math.

To ensure your children learn or re-learn the mathematical concepts and skills they need, they will undergo an assessment so that the tutor can create a lesson plan based on your kids’ strengths and weaknesses.

The summer camp’s customized tutorial program gives your children a head start for the math lessons they will learn in high school, giving them the assurance that they won’t get left behind and that they will meet the demands of the subject.

2. Ask and encourage your kids to ask questions constantly

Since high school math requires more focus, problem-solving skills, and the ability to think outside the box, you can help your children develop and polish these abilities by asking them relevant questions frequently.

Be as involved as you can with your children’s tutorial and self-review efforts. Sit with them whenever they answer printed or online worksheets and ask them why they chose that formula to come up with the answer.

When your children can think about and explain how they came up with the answer, instead of simply spitting out a number, they are more likely to understand and remember what they are learning.

Moreover, encourage your kids to ask you and their tutor questions regarding their lessons.

If they do not understand a concept or have difficulties following the steps of a formula, remind them to ask any question they may have.

If you don’t know how to answer their questions, research the best answer online. You can also do this together with your children so that you can learn together.

3. Remind your children to brush up on the basics

Students who have mastered the basic mathematical concepts such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and fractions are likely to be more confident about taking higher math subjects.

For instance, many children are afraid of high school algebra because they do not have a sufficient understanding of fractions.

Because of this, it is important for your kids to brush up on their knowledge of fractions.

If your children have signed up for a tutorial class, make sure the tutor covers all the basic mathematical concepts.

See to it as well that your children go over the basic concepts when they engage in self-reviews or when you are studying with them.

Many math learning websites let users pick a specific problem area they can work on. Remind your children to focus on refreshing their knowledge and skills in addition, subtraction, and other basic concepts. 

Doing so ensures your children get those foundational skills shored up.

4. Encourage your children to find a study partner or group

Whether your kids are still on their summer holiday or have already started school, encouraging them to work with a study partner or join a study group allows them to experience several benefits.

Students who study with their friends or classmates usually learn faster than those working alone. They can ask each other questions if they are confused by something.

Additionally, working with a friend or group of learners can help your kids understand their lessons better. They can do this by comparing their notes with their fellow students, which will help them spot and fix errors and fill in details they might have missed.

Lastly, they can look at concepts from a different perspective, which can help them grasp their lessons better. They can also acquire additional study skills and habits, which they can then apply to become more productive students.

5. Be a role leader

Even if you don’t like math or are not particularly good at it, you won’t help your children if you are too outspoken about how you feel about this subject.

If you tell your kids your strong feelings against math, you unintentionally convey the message that it is alright to feel this way. Because of this, they may think that it is also perfectly acceptable for them not to work hard, and that it is enough for them to get passing grades or even not study this subject at all.

To avoid this issue, which can be detrimental to your children’s future, display a more positive attitude towards math, even if you don’t like this subject.

By adopting a positive mindset, you help your children understand and acknowledge that math is challenging, but not impossible.

High school math can be tricky and more complicated than what your children used to learn in primary school. However, with the right strategies and your help, your kids can get off to a good start and sustain it, enabling them to perform their best in this particular subject throughout their secondary education.

AUTHOR BIO: Maloy Burman is the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Premier Genie FZ LLC. He is responsible for driving Premier Genie into a leadership position in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Education space in Asia, Middle East and Africa and building a solid brand value. Premier Genie is currently running 5 centers in Dubai and 5 centers in India with a goal to multiply that over the next 5 years.