Category: Math Tutoring

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Math Tutoring

How Parents Can Help To Reduce Homework Stress

How Parents Can Help To Reduce Homework Stress

Are you a parent who is concerned about your child’s level of homework stress? It can be difficult for kids to stay motivated when it comes to completing school work, and this can lead to avoidance tactics that create additional stress. Fortunately, there are some simple steps parents can take to help their children manage the anxiety that comes with staying on top of their academic obligations. This blog post will explore tips for reducing homework stress and creating a positive learning environment. 

By being proactive in helping your child understand the importance of doing their homework and providing them with necessary guidance, you can give them an advantage as they tackle projects in class, at home and in their math tutoring sessions.

Your Child’s Workload

As a parent, it is important to be aware of your child’s academic workload to better understand their struggles and frustrations with homework. Familiarizing yourself with the syllabus and testing requirements can give you insight into what your child is expected to learn and the pace at which they are expected to learn it. This information can help you support your child in a more effective and targeted way. 

Additionally, a better understanding of your child’s workload can help you communicate with their teachers and identify areas where your child may need additional support. By gathering this information, you are setting yourself and your child up for success in the long run.

Setting Up A Workspace

Another important step is setting up a comfortable workspace for your child where they can focus on their studies without disruptions or distractions. Consider furnishing this area with notebooks, pens, highlighters and whatever else your child may need for studying. 

It is also wise for parents to limit computer or mobile phone use when children need to focus on homework to minimize digital distractions.

Creating a dedicated workspace for your child can be incredibly helpful in increasing their concentration and reducing frustration. Providing them with a space designated solely for their work gives them a sense of ownership and control over their educational experience. 

It is also essential to involve your child in the set-up process, allowing them to add personal touches and truly make the space their own. This not only helps them feel even more invested in their learning, but it also promotes creativity and individuality. So, whether it’s a small corner of their bedroom or a separate room entirely, a dedicated workspace can do wonders for your child’s productivity and overall satisfaction with their schoolwork.

Breaking Down Tasks

If your child is frustrated with their homework, it may help them break it down into smaller chunks. For example, if there’s an assignment due in two weeks, then break down the project into smaller goals, like outlining today, researching tomorrow and so on, until it’s ready to be submitted at the end of the two-week period. 

Breaking projects down into more manageable steps will help keep your children motivated and on track with their studies since they won’t have to feel overwhelmed by one massive task looming over them all day.

Encourage Healthy Habits

Encouraging healthy habits such as light exercise or meditation before doing their work can also encourage positive physical and mental states, which aid concentration while working on complex assignments or topics that don’t come easily. 

Allowing breaks throughout these sessions helps clear away any built-up tension and refreshes the mind. Adding slight changes in playground activity or going outside for fresh air are both excellent options here.

Acknowledge Small Steps

Acknowledging small successes is crucial regardless of whether completing a chapter faster than anticipated or having all questions answered correctly during tests. Praising kids along the way shows that parents believed in them even when things got tough, encouraging further motivation towards future challenges, no matter how big or small they may seem initially!

Offer Math Tutoring

Mathematics has long been recognized as one of the more challenging subjects that students can encounter, with its many numbers and calculations causing a lot of frustration and anxiety. The situation worsens when students are left to their own devices to solve complex math problems. 

Fortunately, math tutoring is an excellent way to help bridge that gap between students and math. By helping break down complex math operations and concepts, a tutor can build students’ confidence and skill levels, ensuring they’re better equipped to tackle math challenges independently. Ultimately, this can lead to increased understanding and a better appreciation for math as a whole. 

Offering Helpful Guidance

It’s quite normal for kids to run into difficulty trying out certain concepts during their studies. However, with these simple tips, parents can provide helpful guidance. Additionally, regular check-ins with teachers could be beneficial by finding out about overall grades or specific areas requiring extra focus from home.

Helping children manage heavy workloads isn’t easy, but there are several strategies parents can implement in order to lessen stress levels associated with schoolwork while also keeping kids motivated all year round!

How Dropkick Math Academy Can Help

Math can be a challenging subject for many students, but with Dropkick Math Academy, your child can receive the extra support they need to succeed. Our specialized programs are designed to approach math tutoring in a unique and effective way. We believe in creating a fun and engaging learning environment where your child can build their confidence in math and improve their skills. 

At Dropkick Math Academy, we understand that each child learns differently, which is why we use varied approaches in our math help services to meet the individual learning needs of each student. So if your child is struggling with math, let us help them unlock their full potential and excel in the subject!

Click to learn more about our programs and get your child’s FREE assessment today!

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Top 5 Hacks Dropkick Math Uses To Motivate Children

Top 5 Hacks Dropkick Math Uses To Motivate Children

Parents or guardians often wonder how to spark their child’s interest in math. It’s no easy feat, as math can sometimes feel like a chore or a daunting task. However, it’s important to remember that math is essential in our everyday lives and can be a fun and rewarding subject to learn. 

Enrolling your child in Dropkick Math Academy is one way to make math engaging. Our math help services offer an innovative platform providing parents and children with fun math tools and games. 

Staying Motivated

For children who have trouble staying motivated when it comes to math, the challenge can seem daunting. But there are a few “hacks” that Dropkick Math uses to make learning math enjoyable for kids. Here are five of the top hacks we use to keep children engaged in the subject:

1. Fun Characters

Dropkick Math introduces fun, memorable characters into their lessons, such as Captain Struggle, Dropkick Lee, and Frustrating Francine. These characters help make math more fun by providing a familiar face and story with which children can easily identify. The characters also provide engaging learning moments that make it easier for kids to master math concepts and equations.

By involving characters into our learning, children become more engaged and interested in the material. Even as adults, we understand that learning math can be dull and boring, but with some fun characters encountered along the way, it becomes a little more fun!

2. A Variety Of Learning Methods

At Dropkick Math Academy, we believe that math instruction should not be limited to just one method. Our approach involves providing a variety of teaching methods that cater to different learning styles. 

We understand that children have unique needs, and that’s why we incorporate interactive activities such as puzzles, stories, and manipulatives to help them grasp math concepts. These activities not only make math more fun, but they also help children avoid feeling overwhelmed by repetition or boredom with one type of instruction. Our goal is to equip children with the tools to succeed in math, while making it an engaging and enjoyable experience.

3. Game-Based Learning

Traditional math tutoring methods can often be boring and tedious for children, leading to a lack of engagement and motivation to learn. However, by transforming these methods into engaging games, children can not only improve their math skills but also boost their confidence. 

These games allow children to become active participants in their education, making the process much more enjoyable and rewarding. As a result, they will be more likely to retain the information they learn and develop a positive attitude toward math. 

Dropkick Math Academy has created fun yet challenging games allowing children to practice their skills safely. Mistakes are part of the game rather than something discouraging them from taking risks in order to learn more effectively over time. And since these games adjust difficulty based on how well each individual student is performing – no two players ever have exactly the same experience. 

By creating a fun and effective way to learn, we can help children develop a love for math that will last a lifetime.

4. Encouraging Creativity

At Dropkick Math Academy, we find that one of the best ways to motivate children is by encouraging them to think outside of the box when dealing with mathematical concepts or puzzles. By allowing them to explore multiple approaches, it gives them a sense of ownership over their success while still being able to seek help when needed – without feeling like they are being spoon-fed answers or given shortcuts around hard work.

5. Rewards!

To motivate children to take on challenging problems, Dropkick Math incorporates game-like elements into our lessons and rewards those who take the initiative to learn. Each week, teachers add to students’ battle pack challenges to be completed for battle points. Once they meet again for their next class, they should be ready for more battle training to become a math dropkicker. The battle points that children earn add up to a reward at the end of the program, so students will most likely be eager to earn as many as possible.

Our rewards may change over time, but they currently include Amazon Gift Cards, Pokemon Cards, Bluetooth Earbuds, LOL Surprise Dolls and more!

Our “Hacks”

All things considered – these five hacks used by Dropkick Math truly make a huge difference when trying to motivate young minds about mathematics! From introducing friendly characters for extra engagement to providing difficult yet rewarding problem-solving scenarios, each hack provides unique cognitive benefits that will continue even beyond their educational journey!

It isn’t easy to keep children motivated to learn math, but we see results with our unique approach to math help services. 

At Dropkick Math Academy, we believe in creating a supportive and encouraging environment that helps children build confidence in their abilities. By breaking down complex concepts into manageable parts, we make math accessible and even enjoyable for kids. 

Our small class sizes allow our teachers to consider each child’s unique strengths and weaknesses, ensuring that they get the individualized attention they need to succeed. Through our method, we’ve seen increased test scores, improved understanding of math concepts, and most importantly, a renewed love of learning.

How Dropkick Math Academy Works

We first start with a FREE Early Indicators Assessment that will help us understand where your child may need help in their math education. During the assessment, children will be asked a series of questions, and their ability to understand basic math operations will be monitored. 

This assessment’s results help us place the child in the appropriate program for their learning needs. Our programs are based on the child’s needs, not their grade. So, some children may be placed in a higher or lower program allowing them to learn at the level needed. 

Dropkick Math Academy is an online math tutor that understands the needs of busy families. After the assessment, our coordinator will be in contact to get your child’s availability. We have programs starting every few weeks at various times and days throughout the week, so it is easy to fit into your busy schedule. 

All classes have a maximum of four students and are taught by certified Ontario teachers. Our programs include 12 sessions which run for 60 minutes twice a week. All programs encourage parental/guardian participation and allow time in each class for parent/teacher feedback. 

With these motivating “hacks” and programs taught by certified Ontario teachers, it is no wonder that Dropkick Math Academy is a leading math tutoring company in Canada. To learn more about our programs and to get your child started with our FREE assessment, visit our website today! 

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Math Tutoring

How To Help Your Fifth Grader With Homework

mom teaching a boy

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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Math Tutoring

How Do Our Experiences With Math Affect Our Children?

How Do Our Experiences With Math Affect Our Children?

It’s no secret that math is a cornerstone of modern society, but how does our experience with math affect our children? Children learn from their parents and other adults, so it stands to reason that how we relate to math can shape how our children understand and approach the subject.

In today’s post, we’ll explore how our experience with math might impact our children and discuss strategies for promoting a positive attitude towards mathematics within the home. Furthermore, we will take a look at how our math tutoring programs offer an innovative way for parents to learn alongside their children. 

Math Anxiety

Math anxiety is a real and challenging problem for many individuals who have had negative experiences with math in the past. As parents, we don’t often think about how our past experiences could affect our children’s learning, but studies show just how much of an impact it can have. 

While many factors can contribute to math anxiety, one that is often overlooked is a teacher’s engagement level. It’s easy to dismiss a teacher’s behaviour as irrelevant to student success, but studies show that a disengaged teacher can actually cause significant damage to a student’s mindset. 

When a teacher gives off signals that they don’t care about the subject matter or the students, it can lead to a lack of motivation, confusion, and ultimately poor performance. This is particularly true in math, which is already a challenging subject for many students.

Believe it or not, if you had a math teacher in your past that contributed to your math anxiety, it could now be affecting your child’s learning. If you find yourself unmotivated to figure out math concepts or shy away from doing chores that rely on math, such as personal taxes or finances, you are setting a scene for your child to think math may be too difficult for them to learn as well. 

Other than unengaging teachers, math anxiety can also be caused by a lack of resources or simply feeling overwhelmed with complex concepts and not getting the help needed. No matter what led to your math anxiety, it is essential to recognize the impact that math anxiety may have on one’s life and how it may be affecting your child’s relationship with math. 

The Good News

The good news is that math anxiety can be overcome with proper guidance and support, and individuals can develop a newfound confidence in their math abilities. With the right mindset, resources, and practice, anyone can easily become skilled at math and tackle any mathematical problem. This is where Dropkick Math Academy can help! 

Traditionally, math tutoring has been one-on-one sessions or group classes led by a tutor. But at Dropkick Math Academy, we believe learning should be collaborative between parents and children. 

Our approach involves teaching parents how to assist their children in mastering math concepts so that learning becomes a team effort. We provide online resources, including video tutorials and engaging games, to make learning enjoyable and engaging for both parents and children. By working together, we believe that children can achieve academic success, and parents can feel confident in their ability to support their children’s education.

Speaking Of Math…

First, it’s important to remember that when we talk about “math”, we’re talking about much more than just equations or numbers. Math involves problem-solving skills, logical reasoning, creative thinking, and the ability to make connections between different concepts. As such, having a positive attitude towards mathematics can help ensure that kids develop these important skills in a supportive environment.

Keeping in mind that math isn’t all about working out problems on paper, experiencing math can be done throughout our daily lives. By incorporating math learning into daily activities, you can show your child how much math is truly used every day. For example, when going to the grocery store, talk about the prices out loud. Explain discounts on items and have your child help you figure out the best choices of items that may be on sale. 

If you tend to shy away from math concepts and don’t feel that you have the confidence you should have, talking things through with your child may help you understand it more too! Just remember that you use math so much in your daily life that you probably don’t even think about it anymore. 

You use it when checking the change the cashier gives you at the gas station, when figuring out when you need to leave your house to get your kids to hockey on time, and even when whipping up a batch of chocolate chip cookies. Math is around us everywhere, and you use it more than you know!

As parents, we often forget that everything we say or do can have an impact on our children- and that involves how we speak about mathematics. So, next time you encounter a scenario with math, make it a learning experience and talk it through with your child!

Positive Reinforcement

One way to promote enthusiasm for learning math among children is by providing positive reinforcement. You may not have had the positive reinforcement you should have as a child, but it is never too late to start with your child. Whenever they solve a difficult problem or complete an assignment successfully, be sure to recognize their efforts and give them credit for trying. This will help them realize that even though math is sometimes challenging, they can still be successful if they apply themselves. 

Additionally, it’s important not to become frustrated with children if they are struggling with a concept; instead, offer patience and support as they work through more difficult topics. Understanding that mistakes are part of learning ––and nothing to be ashamed of––can go a long way in fostering self-confidence when approaching mathematical problems down the line.

Work On It Together

As parents, we all want to help our children succeed, but when math questions come into the picture, it can feel overwhelming. However, telling your children that you are not good at math is not the answer. Try making an effort to work through it with them. 

This not only shows our support for their learning, but it can also help you brush up on your own math skills. Encourage your child to explain the problem to you, and you can tackle it together. Math may not come naturally to everyone, but with practice and patience, both you and your child can improve.

As we mentioned earlier, our math programs in Toronto and the surrounding area offer an excellent way for you to learn alongside your child. At Dropkick Math, we believe relationships are the primary key to learning success. Our trained instructors offer a fun and engaging way to learn for both parent and child to understand the building blocks of mathematics.  

Show An Interest

Finally, it’s vital that parents show their own interest in mathematics so their kids can do the same! Modelling behaviour such as studying books related to mathematics subjects during spare time or listening attentively during parent-teacher conferences on progress made will demonstrate how seriously you take the importance of mathematical development in your children’s lives, which may encourage them to take more interest as well.

Understanding how our experiences with math shape our children’s attitudes is vital for ensuring lifelong success in this critical subject area. Positive reinforcement and engaging activities centered around mathematics are just two ways parents can foster excitement around mathematics from an early age while helping cultivate core problem-solving skills in preparation for upcoming years. 

Before hitting Google and searching for “math tutor near me,” check out our website and learn how we involve parents in their child’s learning. Our math tutoring programs offer an innovative and engaging way to get parents and children alike excited to learn mathematics!

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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 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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Learn Math Math Tutoring

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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Math Tutoring

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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Learn Math Math Tutoring

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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