Daily Tips for Families

Today's Tip for Families

07-06-2023

Suggest Strategies to Make Math Manageable

If your teen is reluctant to do any math when school is not in session, it may be because math seems like an overwhelming challenge. But knowing a few strategies can help your teen boil down a long math problem into something more manageable.

Share these strategies with your student:

Use color. Higher math problems have many different symbols. Have your teen try marking percentages in yellow and decimals in blue, for example. This can cut down on confusion.
Use graph paper. Some teens are great at lining up numbers into neat rows. Others are not. Have your teen put the numbers onto graph paper—one per block. This often results in more organized work.
Use hands-on tools. Working with physical objects (manipulatives) can help your teen visualize math problems. For example, your teen could use cutouts of shapes for help with geometry.
Use mental reminders (mnemonics). Remembering “My Dear Aunt Sally” has helped many students recall that they should Multiply and Divide before they Add and Subtract. Have your teen search online for other helpful math mnemonics. Or, suggest making some up.
Find online resources. Does your teen need extra practice on a certain skill? Some websites or apps can help students review. Khan Academy, GeoGebra and Illuminations are three to try.

Brought to you by:

Cambridge City Schools
Title I Program

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