Homeschooling is a trend that has been growing in popularity for the past decade. With more and more parents opting to take charge of their children’s education, homeschooling is becoming an option available to anyone who feels qualified enough to give their child a good education. There are differing opinions on whether it should be considered as a viable educational option or not, but there are many benefits that make it worth considering at least.
Nowadays, with so many options and resources available online, you don’t need any particular skill set in order to teach your kids math – all you need is some time and dedication! This article will go over what you might want to look into when selecting a curriculum for your homeschooled math lessons.
How do homeschool math programs work?
The first thing you’ll want to do is familiarize yourself with the different types of math curricula available. You probably already know that there are different curricula for kids of varying ages, but what matters more than anything is the way in which it’s presented – does it feel like a lecture? A game? These days, math lessons don’t have to be dry and boring, although it is recommended that parents have a firm grasp on the material before teaching it.
What grade-level math should you choose?
Another important thing to investigate is what grade level your child will be starting at – many curricula cover multiple grades, but make sure you familiarize yourself with how each curriculum works before starting to teach your child.
Is it necessary to use a curriculum?
Homeschool math can be taught through other methods, but sometimes families prefer having one central place where they can find all the information for each lesson instead of piecing it together themselves. If you think this might be preferable for you, try looking into pre-packaged curricula.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t worry – there are many homeschooling families who have been in the same position as you before! You can always look online for tips and ideas that might help you feel inspired to take on teaching your child math.
Homeschooling math curriculum
Math-U-See:
Math-U-See is a math program that gives parents and children the tools to learn at their own pace. A full list of resources is available on their website, with lesson videos and downloads of pdfs for each grade level (K-12).
Their curriculum is designed for students who show an aptitude for mathematics and need more challenges than what is usually expected of their grade level. The lessons are taught through illustrated manuals, and each one includes a short video that shows the lesson being taught by an instructor.
The lessons use manipulatives to help students learn how mathematical concepts can be practically applied in various ways. This helps get children excited about math while also making sure they truly understand the material!
Saxon Math:
Saxon is probably the most popular homeschool math curriculum available. It’s designed for school-aged children, with different levels of lesson plans depending on their age and grade level.
All of Saxon’s materials are self-explanatory and easy to use – there are online videos demonstrating how the material should be taught and pdfs explaining in-depth the lessons that are taught. Their website is also great for finding any additional information you might need about their products.
Singapore Math:
Singapore Math is most suitable for children who are just starting out with learning math. They have materials that cover pre-K all the way to high school, with different lesson plans and grade levels depending on what your child needs – all of their products come as a student workbook, teacher’s guide, and online videos to demonstrate how lessons are taught.
Their curriculum is presented in a similar fashion to the way you might teach math at school – students will follow clear instructions and move through each lesson in order. This provides children with a good foundation on which they can build throughout their educational careers!
Horizons Math:
Horizons is a great curriculum for students who are just starting out with math, or who are struggling with problems. They have three different levels of workbooks and lesson plans depending on what your child needs – their Pre-K program addresses problem-solving skills without resorting to rote learning methods.
Their “whole child” approach to learning focuses on providing students with knowledge in all areas, not just math. All of their products are available as student workbooks and teacher’s guides.
Their program is best suited for children who enjoy structured learning – there are specific steps included in each lesson to help students learn everything they need to know without feeling overwhelmed or bored!
Life of Fred:
Life of Fred is a program that was designed by a homeschooling parent, and it combines lessons with stories to help children learn math in an interesting way. The workbooks are available as student books and teacher’s editions, and each lesson throughout the curriculum has its own story to help students remember what they’ve learned (and make math even more fun!).
Life of Fred is great for children who are visual learners – the story-based lessons make it easy to understand concepts without getting too caught up in the technicalities!
Rightstart is a math curriculum designed for grades K-8. They also include three different teaching strategies depending on your child’s needs: the “Core program” gives students lots of hands-on experience and helps them develop mathematical reasoning skills, while the “Accordion program” focuses more on self-paced learning and introduces new concepts at the beginning of each lesson.
The “Extension program” provides additional practice for students who are ready to advance their math skills even further after completing the Core or Accordion programs!
All Rightstart products are available as teacher’s guides, student workbooks, and supplemental materials. Their website is also an excellent source of information about their products, and there are tips on how to teach students using their program.
Rightstart Math is best suited for children who are visual learners – the hands-on approach used during lessons makes it easy to learn concepts without resorting to more boring methods!
Miquon Math:
Miquon is a great curriculum for young children who are just beginning to learn math – it’s a project-based approach, where students will draw diagrams to help them calculate problems. Each lesson is accompanied by a worksheet that asks students to answer questions and solve problems, as well as “recording sheets” which provide additional practice for children who need more of an extra challenge after completing their work.
Miquon is best suited for children who are tactile learners, and enjoy using their hands to learn! It’s also great for encouraging creative thinking skills in students – by “drawing” math problems, they might be able to solve problems that they never could before!
This curriculum is available as a full set of workbooks that provide lessons and worksheets, and supplemental materials such as “movement cubes” which you can use to teach concepts.
Miquon Math is great for children who learn best when they’re engaging with their environment!
Do kids benefit more from homeschool math than on the traditional classroom?
Homeschooling students can learn math in a more tailored way than they would in traditional classrooms, and each curriculum listed above is designed to help students understand concepts without needing to memorize steps.
It’s also easier for parents to teach their children higher-level thinking skills at home – because there are fewer distractions, homeschoolers might even be able to understand concepts that they would have trouble learning in a classroom!
Since each student learns at different paces, it’s great for parents to have the freedom to give students more challenging work if they need it while still keeping them on-track. This is especially true when it comes to math – since finding your child’s learning style and teaching them accordingly is so crucial to their academic success, having the flexibility of homeschooling allows parents to give their children a learning experience that meets their individual needs.
In conclusion, kids who are taught at home have an opportunity to learn higher-level thinking skills in ways that might not be possible in traditional classrooms – if you think this would be a good fit for your child, homeschooling might be the best way to teach them math!
How to keep your kids motivated to learn math when homeschooling
For homeschooling parents, it can be difficult to keep kids motivated to learn math! Homeschoolers must work at their own pace and often miss out on collaborative learning that occurs in traditional classrooms.
So how do you make sure your child is engaged with the material they’re studying? Here are some tips for motivating your child to learn math when homeschooling!
#1: Create a Flexible Schedule
One big difference between the classroom and homeschooling is that students aren’t given deadlines. This can make it difficult for children to stay motivated, especially if they’re working at different paces than their peers. You might want to consider determining a deadline for your child to complete all of their work, even if it’s several weeks after they finish each unit.
#2: Include Art and Music
If your child is interested in art, you might want to incorporate lessons on geometry or other math-related topics into their homeschooling schedule! Enrolling them in an art class can also help them learn math skills and explore the creative side of their brain. Music is another great way to help kids engage with math – try playing songs about geometry, such as “500 Miles” by Hedy West, every time your child finishes a section on triangles or circles!
#3: Make it Fun
Homeschoolers have a lot of flexibility in terms of how they learn – if your child wants to do their math lessons while playing video games, go for it! You might also consider using manipulatives such as blocks or “movement cubes” that can help children visualize problems.
#4: Reinforce Skills
If your child hasn’t learned a concept in one curriculum, it could be because they haven’t yet mastered the skills needed to get there. For example, if your child misses an answer when learning multiplication facts, make sure you practice these facts until they feel comfortable with what they’ve learned!
#5: Make Math Real-World
The more real-world your child’s learning experience is, the more motivated they are likely to be. You can help them make math relevant by connecting lessons with what they’re learning in history class or talking about how math is used when doing everyday things like shopping or cooking.
#6: Work on Study Skills
If your child struggles with studying, you might want to work on their study habits before they begin a new unit of math. This will ensure that they’re prepared for the material and more likely to be successful when studying!
In conclusion, homeschoolers have flexibility in how they complete their math lessons – this can help them stay engaged with the material and get excited about learning new math concepts.
If your child struggles to stay motivated when learning math, consider the tips outlined above for some inspiration! And don’t hesitate to contact us at KBTeachers for more help on how to keep your kids motivated to learn math when homeschooling!
FAQs
Q: Is math homeschooling effective?
A: Homeschooling, when done “right,” is an effective way to learn math. Especially when kids struggle in the classroom, homeschool can be a real benefit and produce successful students and graduates.
Q: What about the social aspect of learning in a class? Does that not help with learning?
A: That’s accurate, but there are plenty of ways to address that issue. There are homeschool meetups, classes at local colleges for parents and kids to take together, field trips… there are lots of options!
Q: How do I choose a curriculum?
A: There’s lots of great math curriculums out there. You should be able to find a program that you and your child both enjoy and work together with. The best programs will be one that motivates your child to love math, not just dread it!
Q: Will my child get bored doing the same curriculum year after year?
A: Some kids will, but most won’t. The good curriculums are designed to build on top of previous skills. Even if your child has done the same program before, they’ll still be learning new things and building their knowledge!
Q: Do I start with geometry or algebra first?
A: Many parents will say geometry should come first. But it’s your call! There are benefits to both approaches, so go with what you think your child will relate to better. And don’t be afraid to switch things up if one approach isn’t working – there are no rules saying you have to stick to one curriculum the whole time!
Q: How can I make math real-world for my kid?
A: You can help your child make math relevant by connecting lessons with what they’re learning in history class. For example, if you’re talking about the Civil War, maybe have them calculate how many miles it is from one state to another. You could also talk about how math is used when doing everyday things like shopping or cooking.
Q: What if my child struggles to study?
A: Make sure your child is prepared for the material. If they need a little extra preparation, you can teach them good study habits so that they feel ready when it comes time to learn new math concepts.
#1: Differentiate Lessons for Different Learners
Some students learn best when lessons are structured, while others learn better through a more hands-on approach. If you have more than one child, they may be at different levels for the same topic.
#2: Make It Fun
Homeschooling gives you the flexibility to make math lessons as fun and engaging as possible. You can use manipulatives, play games, and create your own worksheets if the ones in the curriculum aren’t working for your kid.
#3: Encourage Your Child
Kids may feel like they’re falling behind even if they’re doing just fine. If you see your child struggling, talk with them about what’s going on and how you can help them
#4: Don’t Memorize
Memorization isn’t a good way to build understanding – kids need to know why math concepts work and be able to use multiple strategies to get the right answer.
#5: Ask Questions
Letting your child struggle isn’t a bad thing – it’s how they learn! Make sure you ask questions to be sure they understand what is going on, but allow them to figure out how to get the answer on their own before giving hints or showing them the process.
#6: Make the Answer Clear
If your child is having trouble getting the right answer on a problem, it can be tempting to just do it for them or give hints. But this doesn’t teach them anything! Make sure they understand why their answer is wrong and how they can get the correct response.
#7: Provide Lots of Practice
Good math curriculums provide lots of practice problems. Make sure you don’t stop once your child has gotten a certain concept – they need to be confident with it before moving on!
#8: Test Your Child
You should check in with your child throughout the year to make sure that they’re understanding what they’re learning and that they’re able to do the problems.
#9: Make Math Real-World
Try to connect math concepts with what your child is studying in history class or another subject. For example, talk about how long it took certain events throughout history instead of just focusing on memorizing dates.
#10: Model Good Study Habits
Your kids need to know that studying takes work and isn’t always fun. Show your child good study habits by making it a priority in your own life.
#11: Stop While They’re Ahead
If you notice that your child is doing well on a topic, make sure they don’t get frustrated or overwhelmed by leaving it there. This will help ensure that math stays a positive experience for your kid.