Category: Math Tutoring

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Math Tutoring

How To Help Your Fifth Grader With Homework

As children progress through school, the complexity and volume of assignments inevitably increase, and this is particularly evident when you have a fifth-grader at home. The surge in homework tasks can leave these young learners feeling overwhelmed and may even impact their overall academic performance. Therefore, it is crucial for parents to be actively involved in helping their children navigate this challenging phase of their educational journey and, if needed, enroll them in math tutoring. 

By providing a conducive environment for learning, offering guidance when needed, and encouraging time management skills, you can ensure that your fifth-grader stays on track with their schoolwork. Additionally, fostering open communication and discussing any concerns can go a long way in maintaining a healthy balance between work and play, ultimately contributing to your child’s overall growth and development. Additionally, if your child is showing signs of struggling, setting them up with math help services is vital, so they don’t fall behind. 

As your child progresses through school, it may feel overwhelming when thinking of helping them with their schoolwork but following a few basic steps can help set them up for success. 

Set Up a Schedule

To begin with, it’s important to create a routine that allows your child to keep track of their assignments and complete them on time. Start by setting up set times when they should do their homework. This time should be free from distractions and allow your child enough time to focus on the task at hand without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.

It may also be useful to work out a system for tracking their workload – this could mean writing down tasks in a planner or creating a spreadsheet to list what needs to be done each day. Establishing these habits early will help instill good organization skills that can carry over into adulthood.

Create an Environment Conducive to Learning

Having the right environment is key when it comes to helping your child succeed with their homework. Ensure they have all the materials and tools they need nearby so they don’t waste precious time searching for pencils or paper. If there are certain topics or concepts where your child struggles more than others, provide additional resources such as flashcards or online tutorials that will help them better understand the material.

Take Breaks and Encourage Self Care

When it comes to studying and completing school assignments, it’s easy for kids (or adults!) to get overwhelmed and burned out if they’re trying too hard for too long. Make sure you remind your child to take breaks throughout the process – encourage them to play outside or grab a snack after every few chapters or once an hour when possible, so they don’t become fatigued from staring at books and papers all day long! 

Also, make sure that any stress created from tackling the assignment doesn’t impact other aspects of life – ensure that mealtimes are taken seriously, give them ample sleep each night, and make sure they’re still making plenty of time for leisure activities as well!

Provide Support and Assistance

Sometimes it can be difficult for children, even older ones, to ask adults for help when needed. Providing support with understanding tough concepts can go a long way; sit down together and talk through problems as much as possible so that your child understands how best to tackle them independently going forward. 

Additionally, just being available if further assistance is needed can mean worlds of difference – try not to hover too much but assure your youngster you will always be there if anything becomes confusing or frustrating!

Praise Their Hard Work

At the end of the day, remember: no matter how difficult it may seem at first, practice makes perfect! Whenever your child completes something substantial (such as finishing reading material before moving on to another topic), praise them! Verbal affirmation is an excellent tool used in positive reinforcement; hearing positive words of encouragement will result in better academic performance overall!

Making Learning Fun!

Remember that having an effective homework schedule is key when helping students balance their workload; combine this with supportive guidance and helpful resources – plus some healthy snacks here and there, and soon enough doing “homework” won’t feel like work at all!

At Dropkick Math Academy, we don’t want learning to feel like something kids HAVE to do. We want it to be something they WANT to do. This is why all of our programs are game-based and why we make learning fun and engaging. 

Parental Involvement

Dropkick Math Academy offers a unique solution if your fifth-grader is struggling with math homework, and you are having trouble keeping up with their learning. All of our programs are created to foster engagement and interaction by both child and parent. We encourage parental involvement and believe children can succeed better when parents/guardians are involved in their learning. 

Studies have shown that when parents are involved in their child’s education, children are more likely to succeed. For example, children thrive when they feel loved and supported. This is especially true when it comes to education. When parents are involved in their child’s education, it sends a message of acceptance, inclusion, and respect. This can increase a child’s confidence and motivation, leading to better grades and improved social skills. 

Our Programs

At Dropkick Math Academy, your child won’t just be learning math for grade 5. We will start by giving them a FREE assessment to help us place them in the appropriate program to help them fill any gaps in learning they may be experiencing. Our math tutoring programs are not grade specific, so they can move throughout the classes at their own pace. 

So, no matter where your child is having trouble, we will place them in the appropriate program to help them with the fundamentals of mathematics for their future success. 

Learn more about our math help services today!

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Why Is It So Hard To Help With Your Child’s Math Homework?

Why Is It So Hard To Help With Your Child’s Math Homework

Do you ever feel like a fish out of water when helping your child with their math homework? The pressures of parenting can make it difficult to help, especially if you have limited knowledge about what’s being asked on the assignment. No matter if it’s basic arithmetic or higher level algebra questions, supporting our kids in mastering this subject can seem daunting and overwhelming for any parent. But don’t worry–it doesn’t have to be so hard! Dropkick Math Academy offers online math help for both parent and child. 

Read on to learn why parents often struggle to assist their children with math homework. We will also provide strategies to help tackle tricky problems easier so you can become an effective facilitator who supports, rather than frustrates, your child’s learning journey.

Has Math Changed?

When your child asks for homework help, it can be an eye-opening experience. Technology has made its mark on the educational system, and math lessons are no exception. Despite many advances in technology, math has always retained its basic principles. So, in short, math hasn’t changed, but how it is being taught has. 

This may explain why it is so hard to help children with their homework. Parents have not been taught mathematics the same way that children today learn it.   

To ensure children remain competitive, math literacy is an important focus in their education. Teaching math skills is no longer just about solving equations and memorizing facts. It involves engaging them with higher-order math concepts such as problem-solving, critical thinking, data analysis, and algorithmic thinking to prepare them for the automated future of workflows and improved public services enabled by artificial intelligence. 

Math education should be seen as a gateway to drive innovation and help children understand the interplay between technology, automation and virtual collaboration so they can thrive in our interconnected digital world.

While this may sound intimidating to most parents, learning this new way of thinking about mathematics is vital to help your child along their educational journey. 

Finding Multiple Ways To A Solution

Math is no longer about memorizing formulas and crunching numbers. Today, math education focuses on teaching children the skills to be creative problem solvers. Rather than merely looking for one right answer, students must take a deep dive and think analytically to find multiple paths that lead to the same solution. 

They are encouraged and trained to recognize patterns, identify relationships between concepts, judge cause and effect, and use reason to connect math with real-world applications. By focusing on the process, math teaches students concepts and how to think more critically and effectively by using math in everyday situations.

“The highest achieving kids in the world are the ones who see math as a big web of interconnected ideas, and the lowest achieving students in the world are the kids who take a memorization approach to math,” said education author Dr. Jo Boaler. 

Unlike traditional math classes that used to rely solely on lecture-style teaching, modern math instruction focuses on encouraging hands-on activities in which students can explore math concepts and make connections between fundamental math theories. 

By combining visual aids like videos, models, and interactive software with textbooks, modern math instructors are able to provide more engaging educational experiences that help students better understand complex math concepts.  

Math manipulatives are also a great way to help children understand math concepts and for them to learn how to look at equations in various ways. By utilizing math manipulatives, children can start to understand that there are often many ways to find a solution. 

Asking Questions

When working with your child on their homework, there are some questions you can ask them that will help both of you understand the tasks at hand. By asking the right questions, children can find multiple paths that lead to the same solution, figure out the concepts behind math questions, and show they truly understand basic math foundations.  

“What if?” is an excellent question to ask your child when they are learning math. The question “What if?” is known to be at the root of innovation, experimentation, and play and allows children to contemplate questions beyond their immediate understanding. It can help to fuel curiosity, a deeper understanding, and intellectual breakthroughs. 

“What is going on here?” is another example of a question that can help children look for the underlying structure of a problem. This simple question is an excellent way to check if your child truly understands the concepts or if they have just memorized them. 

The illusion of learning can be a tempting trap for students to fall into. Recognizing information once it is presented can give the illusion that they have learned the material, but in reality, they can only recall it as long as they are given clues. This can create a false sense of confidence and lead to frustration down the road when the material must be recalled without any hints. 

By asking simple questions, parents can help their children better understand the root of mathematics and ensure they don’t just have an illusion of learning. 

An Education Grounded In STEM

Math has never been more important than it is today. We must provide our children with the math skills that will enable them to thrive in this rapidly changing world. Educators and parents must prioritize math learning and provide an education grounded in concepts of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). 

Traditional teaching methods are no longer enough to prepare students for their future roles properly- math instruction needs to reflect the changing landscape of society and its reliance on math-centric occupations. 

By shifting math instruction away from traditional learning activities, math can be presented in a way that is applicable to students’ lives, resulting in increased motivation and success in math performance. As educators and parents, it is our duty to ensure that our children receive valuable math instruction so they can realize their potential and become fully prepared for what lies ahead. This includes becoming educated ourselves so we can effectively help our children. 

How You Can Help Your Child

It’s important to take a step back and realize that homework assistance doesn’t necessarily mean knowing the answers but instead being a resource for guidance as your child learns something new. With the help of Dropkick Math Academy (and a little patience and determination), homework doesn’t have to feel like a struggle for either of you.

Dropkick online math help is elevating the way parents and their children learn math. Dropkick Math Academy’s programs aim to put parents alongside kids so they can learn together with fun, engaging activities. With Dropkick Math Academy’s approach, parents develop an understanding of the math being taught and support their children in a hands-on way. Dropkick Math Academy believes involving parents in the learning process helps foster a positive relationship between parent and child while allowing both generations to gain confidence and skills.

By learning alongside your child, we will expose you to new learning strategies your child is experiencing in their classroom. We believe that by working together, you and your child can learn math fundamentals and gain skills that will translate for years to come. 

Focusing On Relationships

Dropkick Math is a tutoring company that provides support in learning key math skills by focusing on relationships and engaging the parent/guardian. All of our programs are focused on the four pillars of math (number sense, operational sense, proportional reasoning, and algebraic reasoning) to help parents and children understand the basic fundamentals of math. 

We believe relationships are the primary key to learning success. Our certified Ontario teachers offer a fun and engaging way to learn for both parent and child to understand the building blocks of mathematics.  

Get started today by learning more about our programs.

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How To Support Your Child’s Learning At Dropkick Math

How To Support Your Child’s Learning At Dropkick Math

As a parent, there’s nothing more rewarding than watching your child excel in school. It can be especially gratifying when you see them master math concepts and engage with the material at an advanced level. However, achieving those goals can often be difficult and comes with its own set of challenges. Luckily, Dropkick Math online math tutor services offer comprehensive educational programs that make learning easier for children and parents alike! Keep reading to learn how to support your family’s academic journey!

Anxiety And Frustration

When math homework assignments become too challenging for your child, it can cause anxiety and frustration. Despite their best efforts, math concepts may remain unclear, and basic math skills might be difficult to retain. Math tutoring can bring tremendous help for these issues. 

A qualified math tutor can achieve mathematical strategies, such as breaking down math problems into easy-to-understand steps and introducing visual aids to reinforce math concepts. Through personalized instruction, math tutoring can boost your child’s confidence to progress and succeed in math.

Choosing The Right Online Math Tutor

We understand that when your child is struggling, it can be overwhelming to try and find a math tutoring company that is best for your child. At Dropkick Math Academy, we make it easy to understand our process and remain transparent on pricing so you can decide if we are the right fit for your child. By selecting the math tutor that best suits your child’s needs, you are giving them the gift of learning they deserve. 

Dropkick Math Academy is a virtual tutoring company that uses fun and engaging strategies to help children overcome their fear of math. We focus all of our programs on the four pillars of math (number sense, operational sense, algebraic reasoning, and proportional reasoning). Our programs help children understand math fundamentals rather than just helping in a band-aid style when they need help with one concept. Our programs give students the underlying fundamentals to help carry them through their mathematics education. 

By selecting Dropkick Math tutoring services for your child, you are taking the first step in giving them the key to mathematic success for their future. 

Parental Involvement

Dropkick Math Academy provides a unique environment for parents to participate actively in their child’s learning experience. By registering at Dropkick Math, you get access to online classes designed to work with children and parents. As a parent, being involved in the learning process helps create a more meaningful experience for your child and encourages them to take ownership of their education. Dropkick Math Academy gives parents the resources to join in along and support their children during the classes and monitor progress throughout the program.

Education experts have found that parental involvement leads to higher grades, improved behaviour in school, and greater education aspirations for the child. Additionally, parents play a crucial role in instilling essential values like hard work, determination, and self-discipline. 

If you are unable to attend each week, it is important to remember that parental involvement can take many forms. However, the end goal remains the same – giving children the tools they need to thrive in their education and beyond. 

Create A Home Learning Environment

Giving your child a dedicated workspace for learning is a great way to aid their educational journey and help them reach their learning goals. Having this designated area at home provides a physical and psychological environment for learning; students can focus on their studies without any other distractions. This dedicated workspace could be as simple as a desk and comfortable chair, with all essential materials such as paper and pens. It can also become an empowering learning center filled with books, math manipulatives or anything else that encourages learning and productivity that they prioritize while studying.

When choosing a study area for your child, it’s crucial to consider their age. If they’re young, setting up a place that you can easily supervise regularly is important. Not only will this help ensure you can provide guidance and support as needed, but it will also help create the right environment for study success – one that motivates them and inspires learning. Put simply, the study area you select should reflect your child’s specific developmental needs and circumstances. 

Boosting Confidence

The power of verbal encouragement when it comes to mathematics can never be understated. A few well-timed words of support and appreciation can go a long way to show your child that you recognize their efforts in mathematics, whether they are having difficulty with a concept or breezing through homework. 

Showing your child encouragement while learning with Dropkick Math will help boost their confidence and develop math skills more effectively instead of feeling discouraged by how mathematics is presented in school. Our math learning techniques are focused on boosting confidence, and with parents learning alongside their children, it is easy to create a nurturing and supportive environment. 

Fun and Engaging

Dropkick Math Academy offers math programs that can revolutionize the math learning experience for your child. Say goodbye to the traditional tutoring methods – with Dropkick, math operations become fun and engaging activities that take place in a small group setting. Our experienced math professionals create strategies to focus on your child’s math skills, turning math into an enjoyable educational activity. Learning math will no longer be boring and frustrating thanks to these innovative math programs!

Learn more about our programs today!

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Encouraging Participation in Group Math Activities

Encouraging Participation in Group Math Activities

Helping your child understand and enjoy mathematics can be challenging as a parent. However, learning mathematics does not have to be boring or intimidating for children! When it comes to introducing math topics to your kids, group activities can help make the process fun and engaging, especially in a math tutoring environment.  

Involving groups of peers in collaborative math exercises encourages children to better comprehend the material by actively participating in problem-solving activities with their peers. Additionally, it allows them an opportunity to bond over shared interests while developing valuable social skills along the way. 

In this blog post, we’ll discuss how Dropkick Math uses group activities as an effective teaching strategy for guiding your child’s understanding of mathematical concepts. We’ll also discuss why group math activities are important, and introduce some helpful tips on helping children who may be hesitant to participate in group learning.  

Motivation 

Motivating students to be enthusiastically receptive is fundamental when it comes to giving quality instruction in mathematics and is a vital ingredient of any curriculum. Our teachers at Dropkick Math engage our students in fun and engaging activities that help demonstrate the relevance of math and how it applies to real-world situations. Doing this helps spark student interest, motivating them to increase their enthusiasm for learning. 

Classroom learning can be enhanced tremendously when students are motivated by their peers. Group learning experiences allow abilities and strengths to be shared, motivating each individual to work toward the same goal together. Consequently, the group setting encourages active student participation while building relationships and forming a network of reliable mutual support from within the same classroom. 

When we foster motivating environments, learners are more likely to engage in activities with enthusiasm rather than dread and apathy. Motivating peers is a valuable tool for creating an entertaining yet challenging bond that helps students strive for personal improvement and educational success.

Making Learning Fun!

Working in a group setting can be an effective way to learn something new, and it’s especially beneficial in more challenging classes such as math. When students collaborate, group problem-solving can commence, and the learning process becomes more interactive. As a result, everyone can have fun and enjoy finding solutions to problems by working together instead of sulking over them alone. 

Group learning eliminates any solo struggles that may arise with such complex topics, and having peers by your side can help reduce the pressure associated with each task. Ultimately, group learning creates a sense of camaraderie and collaboration among the class while providing an enjoyable way to tackle even the most difficult concepts.

Learning From Each Other

Group learning in math classes can provide an opportunity for children to learn from each other’s mistakes. Working collaboratively with peers can help them identify errors and think of solutions together. It also helps foster a sense of community among group members and strengthens problem-solving skills. Through group work, students are more likely to ask questions, clarify understanding, and have a better overall grasp of math operations than when they work independently.

Offering Rewards

Each student is different, and what motivates them to join group learning may differ. However, at Dropkick Math Academy, we have found that rewarding students helps encourage them to participate.  

Rewarding students for participating in group class is an increasingly popular practice as educators recognize the value of students engaging with the material, even if they don’t always get the answer right. Understanding that students need to be acknowledged for their efforts and that their contributions can often lead to unexpected learning opportunities, rewards for participation become valuable incentives. This kind of encouragement helps students build confidence and encourages them to keep participating and growing. In the classroom setting, rewarding students for stepping forward and developing ideas or solutions provides an opportunity for self-discovery and exploration.

At Dropkick Math Academy, we offer students rewards that include Amazon gift cards, Pokemon cards, wireless earbuds and more!

How To Help Your Child Participate

While the theory behind group learning sounds great, I often have parents asking how to get their children to start participating. We can often put children together in a group, but some are still shy and need encouragement to participate. 

Assisting your child in overcoming the apprehension of participating in a group class setting can be daunting. However, there are several things you can do as a parent to help your child become comfortable with the idea. 

Before enrolling them, make sure to explain why it is beneficial for them to participate and emphasize that the best way to learn is by engaging directly with their peers. Additionally, let them know that joining group activities will allow them to have fun and make new friends. Allow your child to observe one session before expecting them to start participating. Finally, offer words of encouragement and remind them how brave they are for trying something new and different!

Maximum Class Size

At Dropkick Math Academy, we understand how it can be helpful for students to form a collaborative environment free from any distractions. That’s why we have taken note of limiting each class size to no more than four students. It creates an intimate learning atmosphere and helps students engage in meaningful discussions without anyone getting lost in the background. Having a maximum class size of four students allows students to access more personalized instruction and maximize their potential while working together.

Parental Involvement

At Dropkick Math Academy, we extend our commitment to active learning experiences to parents by inviting them to attend classes with their child and actively participate in the group exercises provided by the school. This helps create an atmosphere of mutual support, as parents can work alongside their child in solving mathematical problems while also providing the child with recognition and confidence that their home environment provides a safe place for learning. Parents are essential in making math tutoring more effective, especially at an early age, so we value their involvement in our student’s educational journey.

Get started with our math help services today by having your child take our FREE assessment!

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Tips for Setting up a Home Math Learning Environment

Tips for Setting up a Home Math Learning Environment
Are you looking for the perfect math learning environment for your kiddo? While there’s no one-size-fits-all formula, having an intentional plan and organized structure in place can vastly improve your child’s ability to succeed. Whether your child is attending virtual math tutoring classes or just wants a place to study at home, it is vital they have a dedicated space to work. Read on for some tried and tested tips on creating a learning space for your child in your home.  

Creating A Classroom At Home

Since the pandemic shook up the entire world and many classrooms turned virtual, many parents were suddenly faced with the challenge of using an area of their home as a makeshift classroom. Remote education certainly put home learning into a new perspective, and parents became quickly aware of just how important it is to have a designated study area for their children. However, creating a space where children can feel comfortable and have minimal distractions while studying can be difficult.  Most parents didn’t perceive study areas as important as they are today. Before the pandemic, most children would study at home to practice what they had learned during school. However, since both children and parents spent numerous hours doing homework or listening to lectures from their houses during the pandemic, it suddenly became more clear that having a designated study area is vital for successful education. 

The Age Of Your Child

The first thing to take into consideration when choosing the right study area for your child is their age. If they are at an age when they need constant supervision, you will want to select a space that allows you to keep an eye on them easily. If they are old enough to study independently, you can give them privacy in a quiet area of the house or in their bedroom. 

Meeting Criteria

When creating a space for your child to work in, it is important to ensure the area meets three key criteria. First, natural light is essential for successful learning and while very dark days may require artificial lighting, take measures to ensure adequate access to as much natural light as possible.  Secondly, the temperature is also a key factor in creating an inviting work environment—the room should be neither too hot nor too cold. Finally, low levels of noise are also necessary for optimum work production; background noise can be disruptive and if possible aim for silent workspaces. In addition to lighting and temperature, ensure your child has both a comfortable chair and desk at their workstation: far better conditions than trying to work while sitting on the bed or sofa!

Less Clutter

Clutter can have a substantial adverse effect on education and can be incredibly disruptive when it comes to studying at home. As clutter accumulates, it starts taking up physical space in the learning environment and becomes a distraction for children. To ensure efficient learning at home, creating an area free from clutter is vital, as this encourages the child to stay focused on their studies.  Keeping clutter away does not necessarily mean having a sterile desk and room, but rather organizing items around the workspace into tidy categories that maximize efficiency. This can create a more productive home study atmosphere and make it easier for the child to concentrate as they work through their daily assignments.

Keep Supplies Nearby

The easiness and organization of a child’s study space will determine how well they can independently access the materials they need to accomplish a task. Providing easy access to the appropriate supplies necessary for their studies, such as markers and paper, will help keep them motivated while allowing them to complete tasks without getting frustrated or discouraged.  Moreover, having these items easily accessible helps them maintain concentration during remote learning classes or tutoring so that any disruptions are kept to a minimum. Ultimately, parents need to ensure their child’s study space has an adequate supply of materials in order to promote effective learning experiences at home. Don’t forget supplies often go beyond just notebooks and pens. Always have a kit ready that includes things like markers, a calculator, ruler, and even a water bottle.

Think About Functionality

Creating the ideal home learning environment for a child is not easy if you don’t have the right things in place. Functionality should be at the forefront of your mind when selecting elements like school supplies and furniture, as they form an integral part of a child’s study space. The desk and chair should be chosen to provide comfort, support, and accessibility in equal measure; while paperwork and stationery should be organized together to make it easy for the child to find everything they need without getting distracted. Ultimately, successful home learning starts with creating the perfect environment that allows a child the opportunity to explore their studies most efficiently and comfortably. Learning new math operations and equations can be frustrating, so we want children to be in a place where they feel comfortable and where they can focus on their learning. At Dropkick Math Academy, all our programs are virtual, so children will work from home. Having a place where they can study without distractions is vital to their success.  To learn more about our programs visit our website today!
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The Benefits Of Group Math Tutoring

The Benefits Of Group Math Tutoring

Is your child feeling lost and overwhelmed trying to understand math? Have their attempts at self-learning left them worn down and unmotivated? If so, it might be time for you to consider the benefits of group math tutoring.

With Dropkick Math Academy, a communal learning environment with experienced professionals, cultivating an understanding of complex mathematics is not only possible but enjoyable too! Group math tutoring has been seen as a powerful tool in helping students reach their educational goals – let’s explore why.

Why Your Child Will Benefit From Learning In A Small Group

Learning in small groups has repeatedly shown better results than learning in large groups. Many children also do better with small group learning over individualized tutoring, regardless of the material covered. While there is no concrete evidence as to why children do better in smaller class sizes, we can certainly take an educated guess as to why many thrive in our classes at Dropkick Math Academy!

For one thing, in small groups, the teacher-student dynamic improves drastically, with the teachers able to devote more time to each child. There is also fewer discipline problems overall, so teachers don’t need to stop classes to keep children on track. In fact, student behaviour has been recorded to improve in many ways during small classes. Those who are placed in small groups tend to be more actively engaged with the learning process when they have the opportunity to build social connections among themselves during class time. 

A Supportive Atmosphere For Learning

Small classes can provide a more collaborative and supportive atmosphere for learning. With fewer students per group, peers have more space to develop relationships and form meaningful connections. Everyone’s ideas are encouraged and valued, fostering self-confidence and an appreciation of diverse opinions. 

With more opportunities for personal interactions, classes become more participatory and interactive, which enhances knowledge retention and understanding of key concepts. Children will often feel more comfortable in a small group setting, and teachers report more engagement and willingness to learn. With small group lessons, there is less stress on the child to speak in front of a large class, and they will also get encouragement from their peers. 

Boosting Confidence

A small classroom setting allows teachers to observe each student more actively, so they can spot when confidence may be wavering. When a teacher asks for the answer to a question, having fewer students present gives them more opportunities to provide individual encouragement and reinforcement. Learning math operations can be intimidating, but being in a small group can help each child learn from one another. 

A child that learns math in a small group class will have many confidence-building experiences that can help provide a sense of accomplishment. These experiences stem from positive and close interactions with the teacher and other students. 

Not only this, but smaller classes also allow the teacher to provide customized instruction and ensure that each student is receiving the support they need to progress and build their confidence. It’s clear that small classes can be incredibly beneficial in boosting student confidence and helping them respond confidently to challenges in the classroom – an invaluable tool for any teacher.

Developing Social Skills

With group tutoring, children will not only develop confidence, but they will also develop social skills that may be crucial to the work environment of their future careers. These skills can be invaluable as they grow older and require more social skills.

Group tutoring may be the right choice if your child gets stressed easily while doing math homework. As a group supports the efforts of each individual, stress has been shown to be naturally reduced. A small group can become a safe space to try out new ideas and approaches for children, continuing the loop that can increase their confidence and love of math. 

Enjoying Math

Ultimately, what we enjoy doing depends on how competent we feel when undertaking a particular activity. If we look at something like swimming, or even math, it becomes clear that the more time and effort invested in improving skills leads to higher levels of enjoyment. 

When someone takes math lessons, trains hard and begins to understand the discipline more deeply, the sense of accomplishment is immense. Knowing that others have taken notice of the progress made is even more gratifying and adds to the pleasure to be had from engaging with math.

At Dropkick Math Academy, we encourage parents/guardians to learn alongside their child so they can join in the pleasure and gratification of progress made. We truly believe that learning together can add to your child’s success!

Dropkick Math Academy’s Group Classes

If you are looking for a small, personalized learning environment for your child, look no further than our programs. All of our classes are taught by certified Ontario teachers and have a maximum class size of four students. This allows our teachers to offer individualized attention to each student and tailor their teaching style to best suit their specific needs. Our programs cover a wide range of subjects, from fractions to algebra, and our small class sizes ensure that every student receives the personalized attention they deserve.

How It Works

With Dropkick Math Academy, you can be assured your child will thrive in their small group math tutoring sessions. We start by having your child take our FREE assessment to ensure they are placed in the appropriate program for their level of learning. 

Once the child is placed in the program, they will receive their battle pack in the mail, which includes all the tools they will need for their weekly battles with math. Each class meets virtually twice a week, and children will earn battle points which can be redeemed at the end of the program for a reward.  

Get Started Today!

At Dropkick Math Academy, our math help services can give your child the confidence they need to tackle math head-on and dropkick any frustrations to the curb. Learn more about our programs and how we offer small group tutoring, with classes starting every few weeks. Get started today with our FREE assessment!

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Identifying Signs of Struggling with Mathematics

Identifying Signs of Struggling with Mathematics

Do you feel like your child is falling behind in the mathematical world? Mathematics can be a tricky concept for students, but identifying signs early on that they are struggling can really set them up for success in the future. 

There’s no need to worry if your child is having difficulty understanding certain concepts because there are several steps that parents can take to help their budding mathematicians get back on track, including using a tutoring company. Read on as we discuss how to spot warning signs and what actionable strategies you can use when helping your child build up their math skills!

A Disliked Topic

Math can be one of the most difficult subjects for children to master, so it is not surprising that it is one of the most commonly disliked topics among school-aged children. To ensure a child’s math success, parents and teachers should work together to foster an environment that promotes math confidence and understanding. Doing this will help them realize they can excel at math with persistence!

Three Main Reasons

While there can be a variety of reasons why children struggle with mathematics, there are often three that stand out more than others.  

Math Anxiety

One of the most significant hindrances to effective math comprehension is the belief that math is too complicated or that a child isn’t smart enough to understand it. This belief is commonly caused by math anxiety and can lead to lacklustre achievements in math, as striving for success in something that seems out of reach quickly becomes demoralizing. 

When a child feels as though they are “not good at math,” they lose the confidence needed to advance. Many children become too afraid to even take a chance at answering math questions and would rather retreat into the back of the classroom and become invisible during math class. 

Symptoms of math anxiety in children include:

  • Low achievement
  • Avoidance of math
  • Negative self-talk
  • Intense emotional reactions while trying to do math
  • Nervousness
  • Increased heart rate
  • Lack of response in math class

If your child is showing any of these signs, they may have math anxiety. This is a common occurrence, but it can continue into adulthood if not dealt with at an early age with math tutoring. 

Lacking The Building Blocks

Math is an intricate subject, one where each concept builds upon the last. This can create a type of domino effect; if one math concept isn’t fully understood or retained, the student may continually fall behind in math progressions. Math classes are often structured so that later concepts rely on the foundations of earlier material. 

Suppose a child is missing this base understanding of elements like multiplication and division. In that case, they may struggle to move forward, and their math skills may be severely impacted when tackling more complex equations. Therefore, instructors must ensure students have mastered each lesson before advancing in math coursework; it’s the only way to guarantee success for future math questions.

Learning Difficulties

If you notice your child struggling with math, they could have an undiagnosed learning disability. While there are numerous disabilities, one of the most common is dyscalculia (also known as number or math dyslexia).

Children with dyscalculia often have trouble remembering math facts. They may understand the logic behind math facts but may not know when or how to apply them to solve problems. Another sign of dyscalculia is the inability to understand quantities or concepts like biggest versus smallest. 

Currently, researchers do not yet fully understand dyscalculia, but they suspect that it’s related to how the brain processes math-related information; how specific regions of the brain would be structured differently and interact differently in those with dyscalculia compared to individuals without it. As such, more studies are needed to better understand what causes this math-learning disorder and how it can be prevented and treated.

Speak With Their Teacher

If you are unsure whether your child is struggling in mathematics, the best place to start is by speaking to their teacher. They will be able to let you know if your child has been avoiding participation in class or any other warning signs that could mean there is a problem. By catching math anxiety and learning difficulties early, it is easier to get a child the help they need to get back on track. 

At Dropkick Math Academy, our online math help is designed to help students regardless of their struggles. All of our math tutors are certified Ontario teachers who are experienced in teaching children with various learning styles and blocks. They understand why a child may be struggling and how to encourage them to overcome the hurdles they may face. 

All of our programs revolve around the four pillars of math (number sense, operational sense, algebraic reasoning, proportional reasoning) designed to focus on a child’s needs, whether it is more visual or tactile aids or more focused explanations of concepts. We understand that learning math can be difficult for many children and their parents, and we strive to offer the best in education for future success. By involving the parents/guardians in our math tutoring, we can help ensure they are equipped with the knowledge to help their child down the line. At Dropkick Math Academy, we believe that learning together brings greater success!

Learn more about our programs today and how we can help your child if they are struggling with mathematics. 

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Learn Math Math Programs Math Tutoring

How To Make Math Fun For Your Child

How To Make Math Fun For Your Child

Do math and fun often seem like polar opposites to you? You’re not alone – a lot of parents find it hard to make math an enjoyable experience for their kiddos. Fear not, though; with the right strategies, you can get your child engaged in mathematics and have some laughs along the way! In this blog post, we’ll be talking about how to make math more entertaining for your child – from using simple games to introducing helpful tools. If you are still struggling, there are many math help services that can be utilized to get your child excited about mathematics. So read on if you want to help your son or daughter take a shine to their arithmetic lessons.

Make It A Game

First and foremost, anything can be fun when made into a game. Game-based learning has been touted repeatedly as one of the best ways to get children engaged and interested in learning. 

For young students, games and friendly competition provide an ideal way to speed up the learning process. Hands-on activities like playing cards or board games, and completing puzzles, can help kids access and understand new information quickly and more effectively than through direct teaching. 

By competing with a friend or family member, players are also encouraged to expand their knowledge in order to win the game. Furthermore, games heighten the excitement of learning something new and give kids a valuable break from the traditional school curriculum.

At Dropkick Math Academy, game-based learning is at the center of our student’s educational experience. We understand that children typically learn best when they can actively engage with their subject material in a fun and creative way. 

With game-based study models, our students actively explore complex ideas through play. Our game-based curriculum exposes students to the core concepts of math and encourages them to use problem-solving techniques to find solutions and advance further in gameplay.

Make Use Of Screens

Kids today can no longer imagine life without their devices and screens, so why not make the most of it? Using apps and games to reinforce kids’ understanding of math concepts effectively keeps kids engaged while they learn. With a wide range of interactive activities, kids have fun while being exposed to Math concepts and developing their problem-solving skills. From games designed for kids as young as three all the way up to linking theoretical math skills with video games, these apps and games can be an enjoyable and rewarding way for kids to build confidence in their Math abilities.

Dropkick Math provides virtual math tutoring programs that are an invaluable resource for children and parents alike. Our virtual environment allows children to learn and grow while staying safe in the comfort of their own homes, eliminating the need for physical classrooms and face-to-face instruction. 

With our range of math help services, students can access exciting virtual activities and other resources all at the click of a mouse. With Dropkick Math, there’s no stopping your child’s learning journey!

Make It Relevant

It’s important to engage kids in math by teaching them how relevant math is to their own lives. Showing kids how math is used for practical purposes in the real world helps them understand why it is necessary and worthwhile. 

By connecting math topics like multiplication, fractions, and equations to experiences from everyday life, such as shopping and telling time, kids learn in a more meaningful way that allows math skills to become part of who they are. When kids form this connection between math and real-life situations, it can shift their mindset from feeling frustrated with math to appreciating its utility and valuing what it can do for them.

Watch Your Words

As parents, it’s all too easy to accidentally introduce math anxiety in our children without even realizing it. A simple statement such as “I am not good at math” can negatively impact our kids because it alters how math is perceived and internalized by them. It creates a harmful perception of math and could lead to math anxiety, which can affect how children perform and how they view themselves in math-related fields in the future. 

We should take care to avoid slipping up with our words when speaking with our kids about math and never allow our own math anxieties to interfere with their math learning experience.

If you do feel anxious about math and don’t know where to start when trying to help your child learn, Dropkick Math Academy may be able to help! We encourage parents to be involved and learn alongside their children. 

As any parent knows, children thrive when they feel loved and supported. This is especially true when it comes to education. When parents are involved in their child’s education, it sends a message of acceptance, inclusion, and respect. This can increase a child’s confidence and motivation, leading to better grades and improved social skills, resulting in them having fun while learning! 

Connect Reading With Math

Connecting math and reading can be a great complement for children who enjoy reading! There are many books available that can help young learners understand math concepts more easily by introducing them through stories. 

Reading about math and its application in a fiction story is an enjoyable way to engage children with mathematical ideas, build comprehension skills and support understanding of the sometimes complicated principles of mathematics. It might even pique their interest to pursue more advanced problem-solving! So if your child loves to read, consider engaging them with a read-aloud book about math for an entertaining and educational experience.

A Love Of Learning

Learning math can often be intimidating for children, especially if they struggle to understand a difficult concept. However, making learning math fun and engaging can be hugely beneficial when it comes to their future success. When children experience learning positively, they are more likely to become eager and confident learners – profiting both academically and personally. 

Whether through games or innovative applications of problem-solving questions, learning math should not have to come at the cost of joy and anticipation. By introducing elements of creativity into learning, children will soon find mathematics an enjoyable part of learning.

Committed To Making Learning Fun

Dropkick Math Academy is committed to making learning math an enjoyable and rewarding experience for your child. With certified Ontario teachers providing personalized instruction tailored to each student, Dropkick’s program helps boost confidence levels and ensures your child has the skills they need to thrive in the future. 

Not only can Dropkick Math help sharpen math fundamentals, but it can also provide fun activities and games that will keep your child engaged and excited about learning more. Our Toronto math services are the perfect way to give your child a head start into success!

Learn more about our programs and get your child started today!

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Math Tutoring

How To Help Your Child Learn Division

How To Help Your Child Learn Division

If multiplication is the bee’s knees, then division must be the honey (or whatever else bees make!). So, whether your child is a young buckaroo learning to divide for the first time or an older kid who needs some extra practice with this arithmetic concept, this blog post will have you and your kiddo buzzing about mastering division! 

Here we’ll discuss helpful tips for introducing kids to division concepts and ways to do so that are fun and educational. We will also dive into math tutoring and whether it is worth it for your child. Let’s get started!

A Confusing Subject

Division can be a confusing subject for children and one that requires plenty of practice. It’s an important skill to learn, as it forms the basis of many other mathematical operations. That’s why it’s essential to find ways to help your child learn division so that they have a strong foundation for future math lessons. Here are some tips and strategies to get your child on the right track. 

Break Down Division Into Components 

Teaching division can be daunting if you try to tackle the entire concept all at once. Instead, break up division into smaller components, such as figuring out division facts or modelling division with objects. This makes it easier for children to understand the process and helps them focus on each step without getting overwhelmed. 

For example, you could start by having your child solve simple divisibility problems using numbers they already know and then move on to practicing factors and multiples before tackling long division. 

Make Use Of Visual Aids

Visual aids are incredibly useful when it comes to teaching division because they help children understand what happens when something is divided into equal parts. You can draw diagrams or create models with objects like candy or coins, so your child can physically see how things are divided up. There are also math manipulatives that you can purchase to help your child learn more easily. This will also help them better understand why certain answers make sense mathematically speaking! 

An example of using visual aids can include having your child divide candies. If your child is practicing math for grade 4, ask them to divide the candies into equal groups. Then instruct them to either split the candies into two groups of four or four groups of two. Discuss this process and show your child how to write it as a division problem. Repeat this activity several times with other numbers to help your child gain a better understanding of division. 

Practice Word Problems 

Word problems can be intimidating for anyone – even adults – but if approached correctly, they can become a fun way for children to learn and apply their knowledge of equations related to division concepts.

Try this word problem with your child involving bicycles:

There are 65 bikes in the bike rack outside the school. Out of all the bikes, 31 are silver. Half of the remaining bikes are red.

Estimate how many bikes are red.

Make sure you provide plenty of examples that come in different forms and require your child to think critically about how they should attack the problem at hand before jumping straight into solving mode! 

Use Games 

Games are not only fun but also an excellent way to reinforce math skills, such as those related to division. Board games such as Monopoly or Boggle encourage players to use counting skills which are helpful when understanding how two numbers interact during a divide-and-conquer calculation scenario (e.g., 4 / 2 = 2). 

Puzzles, math videos, apps and online activities all offer additional opportunities for kids to practice their math knowledge in an engaging manner – which increases the likelihood that knowledge gained from doing so will stick! 

At Dropkick Math Academy, we believe learning math should be fun and engaging. This is why all of our game-based programs offer children an opportunity to interact easily with our teachers while boosting their confidence in mathematics. Our math tutoring is an alternative to traditional tutoring that only uses textbooks and addresses the problems a child is experiencing at that moment. Our programs set children up with math fundamentals so they have the skills necessary to continue in future grades. 

Talk About Real Life Applications 

Real life examples provide context, meaning and relevance in learning, which helps students connect more deeply with presented content–including difficult concepts like those related to dividing numbers! 

Try discussing situations where knowing how division works comes in handy. This could include sharing equally between friends or dividing tasks among family members. By encouraging your child to think creatively you will also help them harness the power of mental math rather than relying solely on physical manipulations (i.e., pencil & paper) during problem-solving moments. 

Of course, applying math in real life will depend on your child’s age. For example, math for grade 4 can include using division in baking to divide recipes, while high schoolers can practice dividing decimals with finances while helping with the home finances. 

Learning any new topic can sometimes be challenging. Still, by breaking up topics like division into smaller pieces and exploring its real world applications, you’ll be able to make math concepts more understandable for your child – making learning both enjoyable & effective in turn!

Math Tutoring

If your child struggles with division, they may benefit from math tutoring. Understanding the basics of mathematics is essential for children’s success in more complex math equations. Children who do not learn the root of math can find themselves hindered when attempting to tackle harder equations later in their academic careers. Missing that basic foundation can present a problem when children face arithmetic, algebra, and even calculus because a foundational understanding is necessary for them to progress further academically. 

Dropkick Math Academy offers math help services for children who may have a gap in learning. Whether this was caused by missed education from the pandemic or a misunderstanding of mathematics, our programs target the root cause and give children the fundamentals they need to succeed. 

Dropkick Math Programs

Our programs are based on the four pillars of math (number sense, operational sense, algebraic reasoning, and proportional reasoning). We use an innovative approach to learning that respects modern scientific understanding of childhood education. 

Rather than simply memorizing facts, Dropkick Math Academy encourages students to engage with the subject and strive for a deeper conceptual understanding. Topics are suitably created for each level, so learning is attainable without overloading children, and alternative approaches to concepts allow for maximum engagement and comprehension. Dropkick Math Academy educates by developing student skills and aptitude, creating a well-rounded approach admired by educators across the globe.

Parental Involvement

Division concepts can be confusing to many children, so it’s often best to make sure that you also have full knowledge of your child’s level in relation to their grade. Our programs encourage parents to be involved with their child’s education so they can learn alongside their children. 

Still not sure if Dropkick Math would be right for your child? We offer all children a FREE, no-obligation assessment that will allow us to understand where their gaps in learning occur. We are transparent in our assessment and will share the results with parents/guardians so you can make the appropriate decision for your child. Learn more today by visiting our website. 

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Math Tutoring

Choosing the Right Math Tutor for Your Child

Are you one of the countless parents searching for a “math tutor near me” to help your child get up to speed with their studies? Finding the right teacher can feel overwhelming, like navigating a maze when you’re not quite sure what destination lies at its center. While it might take some time and effort, no parent wants to waste money! – scouting out the ideal math tutor is worth the hunt. After all, a great match could mean that difference between sailing through those pesky equations or drowning in them! Read on for tips on choosing the right math tutor for your child. 

A Daunting Task

Choosing the right math tutor for your child can be a stressful and daunting task. The math tutor you choose will significantly impact your child’s academic performance, so it is important to take the time to find someone who is both experienced and qualified. 

When selecting a math tutor, several factors should be taken into consideration. First, consider the background of the tutors you are looking at. Make sure they have experience in math education and are knowledgeable about different teaching methods suitable for various types of learners. It’s also beneficial to select a tutor specializing in the type of mathematics class your student is currently enrolled in, such as algebra or trigonometry. 

At Dropkick Math Academy, we take the quality of our educators very seriously. That’s why only certified Ontario teachers make up our teaching faculty. Each one of our certified teachers is trained and experienced in their respective areas of expertise. With their certified accreditation from the province, you can be sure your children are receiving the highest standard of education available. Our team of certified Ontario teachers ensures that every student gets the individualized attention and instruction needed to succeed in math and beyond.

Availability

Another important factor when choosing a math tutor is their availability. Most tutors schedule lessons either after school hours or on weekends. So, you need to ensure that the tutor’s scheduling options coincide with your available meeting times. You should also inquire about whether virtual sessions are an option; some tutors may offer one-on-one video chat sessions or small group tutorials through video conferencing services such as Skype or Google Meet. 

Dropkick Math Academy is a virtual online math tutor with sessions starting at various times and days of the week, so we can help ensure the time works best for your family. Our small group classes include no more than a maximum of 4 students and are taught through Google Meet.

Making Learning Fun!

Your assessment of a potential math tutor should also consider their professional experiences and qualifications and their personality, especially if you’re looking for long-term instruction for your child. 

A great way to assess their personality is by interviewing them directly or calling up references from past students or parents who have secured their services in the past. Ask questions like: Do they build rapport with students easily? Are they patient and tolerant? Understanding each candidate’s personality can help you determine which one would be best suited to teach your child effectively over an extended period of time. 

We know that math can be frustrating and boring, so we take steps to make our programs fun. All our programs are game-based and taught by teachers who make them interesting and engaging for children. 

Getting The Help They Need

When applying for a math tutor, you want to be sure your child is getting the help they need. Traditional tutors may not be able to recognize the underlying root cause of math misunderstandings and may just help students with the math concepts they are struggling with at that moment in time. However, this is only a bandaid solution, and children may encounter more problems later in their education. 

At Dropkick Math Academy, we’re dedicated to helping children learn and develop mathematical skills that they can use for years to come. To ensure our students are set up for success, we start each learning journey by performing an Early Indicators Assessment. This assessment helps us understand each student’s needs, so they can be placed in the most appropriate program for them. We believe this assessment provides an excellent basis for their math education, no matter their grade level or current skill level. By taking this assessment first, we give our students a strong foundation on which they can build an exciting future in mathematics.

Staying On Budget

Finally, budgeting concerns must be taken into account when selecting a math tutor – even though it shouldn’t necessarily dictate your choice of educator! Rates vary significantly among professionals depending on their qualifications and level of experience; make sure to do some research before deciding on any individual so that you can purchase quality tuition within what you can afford financially. 

We believe pricing should be transparent, so we break down all our costs. Dropkick Math Academy is billed in installments, and there are no hidden fees. Our prices are listed on our website, and we also offer FREE programs for participating Ontario school boards as part of the Learning Action Recovery Plan. 

Selecting The Perfect Math Tutor

In conclusion, selecting the perfect math tutor for your child requires careful consideration across multiple factors, including expertise, availability, teaching style and interpersonal skills; ensuring that all these elements come together harmoniously will ensure effective learning outcomes from personalized instruction backed by industry knowledge and experience tailored towards specific age groups like children or teenagers!

We understand finding the perfect fit for your child can be challenging. Dropkick Math Academy is an easy choice. With a rotating schedule of classes starting every few weeks, you are sure to find a timeslot that works for your child. We also ensure that our math intervention programs are fun and engaging so your child will stay focused and eager to learn. We also offer rewards to students at the end of each program which is always a big hit with children! Our current rewards include Amazon gift cards, Bluetooth earbuds, Pokemon cards and more!

So, whether your child is struggling with math or just wants to get ahead, we can help. Learn more about our programs and how we are different than a traditional online math tutor. Help your child succeed by having them fill in our FREE assessment today!

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