He Just Can't Do Math!

“Kevin is just not good at math.  He does well in Reading, Language Arts and Social Studies, but not math.  That’s just the way it is.”

Unfortunately, we frequently hear this, or a similar type of refrain from parents of kids who struggle with math.  While the frustration is understandable, there’s an element of defeatism that we take issue with.  To be sure, some kids naturally “get math”; for others it’s more of a challenge.  But does this mean the student should just give up and accept borderline passing grades?

Consider the opposite situation:

“Liz is in the highest math class, and scored at advanced proficient on her NJASK test.  But she struggles with Reading and Language Arts.   I guess she’ll always be a poor reader.”

Not surprisingly, we don’t typically hear parents willing to accept poor reading as a fait accompli.   The same should hold true for math.

What’s a Parent do With a Struggling Math Student?

• Don’t accept that your child can’t succeed in math, and be careful of the signals that you unintentionally send him.  While he may not be the next Blaise Pascal, there’s no reason that, with the proper support he can’t do well – and feel good about doing well!
• Speak with your child’s teacher -- ask about additional classroom support and opportunities for extra help after school.
• Look for ways to integrate math concepts in the home – whether through use of measurements in the kitchen (recipes) or simple arithmetic exercises using items in the home.   Here’s a word problem for your 3 ^rd or 4 ^th   grader:

The dining room table in Mary’s home has 6 chairs.  If each chair has four legs, how many legs are there in total?  If one of the chairs is broken, and Mary’s father decides to replace this chair with 3 other chairs, how many legs will there be in total?

• Consider hiring a math tutor , preferably a certified teacher, who has the specific training and skills to find the right learning strategies for your child.

• Lastly, encourage your child to be patient and to learn to enjoy the challenge.   Yes, math may be a bigger mountain to climb, but once conquered; your child will have experienced first hand the value of perseverance and hard work – experiences that will be as valuable, if not more, as proficiency in math.  As Tolstoy once said:

"Some mathematician, I believe, has said that true pleasure lies not in the discovery of truth, but in the search for it."

Think Tutoring has math programs for elementary, middle and high school.  We have helped hundreds of kids enjoy the journey, succeed and feel good about math for the first time.  Call us at 973-593-0050 for more information