Do you have a child who is reluctant when it comes to math? You can homeschool the reluctant math learner. We have a long list of tips and games that can help!
The eye rolls. The sigh. The lessons that should take fifteen minutes, but your child is sitting at the table an hour later. When it comes to math, these are just a few signs that you may have a reluctant learner.
So what’s a homeschool mom supposed to do? Get a little creative, and maybe just a bit sneaky, and they won’t even realize how much math they are learning.
Play Games
Board Games
Kids practice a lot of skills playing board games and you can find them for any age. From simple color matching, to counting, to complex strategies, there are board games for a variety of concepts. Incorporate playing board games on a regular basis in your homeschool and your kids will be doing math in a way that is engaging and fun.
Online Games
You can also find a variety of online games. These games help kids practice their skills while playing online games to keep it fun. Check out Math Playground or PBS Kids.
Printable Games
Contig is an easy to learn game that’s perfect for multiple skill levels. Students roll three dice then use a combination of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division to claim a square on the board. You can find the complete rules to the game and a printable board online. You’ll also want to check out Mathematics Shed for a variety of Printables, games, and more.
Do Math That Counts (Pun Intended!)
Doing math in “real-life” answers that age old question: “When will I ever use this?”
Grocery store math.
A simple trip to the grocery store gives you multiple chances to help your kids practice some of their math skills. A few ideas include having your students:
- Look over the grocery list and guess how much the grocery bill will be at the end of the trip. Then figure out the difference between what you thought it would be versus what the actual cost of the groceries were.
- Estimate the weight of produce and then weigh it. Calculate the cost based on the weight and price. Check your answers when you purchase your groceries.
- Create a meal plan and find out what your budget is. Then look around and decide what ingredients are available and which ones will need to be purchased, make a list, then do the actual shopping.
- Figure out the best deal while at the store by looking at the cost per unit or weight. Make comparisons—is the name brand or the generic version a better deal?
Cooking
Students can measure the ingredients, learn about different units of measurement, and learn how to half or double fractions. It’s also important for them to know how to follow directions. And yes…following directions is a math skill. Many mistakes in math happen when students don’t read or follow directions correctly.
Other real-life math opportunities include designing and building things, budgeting, and comparing prices on products your kids want. Let them see you use math and talk about how you use it everyday.
Math and the Reluctant Learner
Even if your kids are a bit reluctant when it comes to learning and practicing math, they can still do really well in it. Simply sneak in some learning, let them have fun doing it, and make it relevant to everyday life.
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