As parents, it’s important to encourage our child’s natural curiosity and critical thinking skills. One way to do this is by actively handing them challenges and allowing them to solve problems independently. This could be in the form of simple activities like puzzles or games, but it can also involve real-life tasks such as helping with grocery shopping or planning a family outing.
It’s important for us to resist the urge to take over and solve their problems for them, giving them room to figure things out on their own and experience the rewards and challenges that come with it. In addition, fostering an open and curious mindset in our children can lead to increased confidence and creativity in their thought processes. So next time your child presents you with a math operation they can’t figure out, why not give them a chance to find the solution themselves? However, if they seem to struggle too much, investing in some math tutoring may be helpful. It will surely lead to valuable learning experiences for both of you.
Playing Math Games
At Dropkick Math Academy, we believe in game-based learning as a means to engage and motivate students. Research has shown that game-based learning can improve problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and memory retention. In addition, playing math games can also help build students’ confidence in their abilities and make them more excited about learning math. And best of all, game-based learning ensures that students have fun while also mastering essential mathematical concepts and skills.
That’s why game-based learning is at the core of our curriculum at Dropkick Math Academy. We are committed to making math education engaging and enjoyable for all types of learners. With our games, students may find themselves embarking on an adventure in the Seas of Perseverance and taking on the dreaded Math Pirates. Or, they may be travelling to the year 2094 and preparing to take part in the yearly event called “The Great Race.” No matter their program, they will learn math through fun and engaging games.
While we focus all of our learning on games at Dropkick Math, students can also play games at home to strengthen their math skills. Dominos, Uno Flip, Monopoly, and Money Bags are some of the best at home games that your child can play to make learning math more fun! Try turning off the tv in the evening and playing a game with your child. They will have fun and won’t even know it is helping them learn.
Incorporating Math Into Everyday Life
Math may seem like an abstract concept to young children, but making real-life connections can help them understand its importance and usefulness. For example, grocery shopping provides a great opportunity to practice counting, estimating, and adding prices. Kids can also learn about subtraction by helping to divide a budget or splitting a bill at a restaurant.
While playing outside, math skills can come into play when estimating the number of steps or measuring the height of a tree. Even simple daily tasks such as setting the table or folding laundry involve math concepts like sorting and arranging objects in equal groups. Showing children how math applies to their everyday lives can make it a more relevant and engaging subject for them.
Just don’t make it too easy for them. Children need to be able to make mistakes and learn from them to move forward. Mistakes can not only be learning opportunities, but as students consider their mistakes, it can also be a time when their brains grow. So, next time you find a situation where you can incorporate some math learning in real life, ask your child a question you know they may find challenging. Once they are able to work it out, their confidence will rise, along with their eagerness to learn more.
The Encouragement Your Child Needs
At Dropkick Math Academy, we believe some of the best encouragement you can give your child is by learning alongside them. Our programs encourage parents/guardians to get involved and are tailored specifically for students and their guardians to work together on understanding the building blocks of mathematics.
We understand that your child isn’t learning the same math you may have been taught. This is why our specialized programs create an environment where both parent and child can better understand the fundamentals, creating a fun and engaging learning environment.
Over three decades of research have found that parent involvement positively impacts student success regardless of socioeconomic status, background, or parent’s level of education. When you learn alongside your child, you are setting an example while strengthening your relationship. Your child will see your confidence building in mathematics, which will also help build them up. Your attitude about learning can directly influence your child’s educational success.
Make It Challenging
As I mentioned earlier, while encouraging your child through games or everyday life, it is vital to also make it challenging. It may be tempting for parents to make math easy for children, but it’s important to remember that challenge is essential for learning. Just as a muscle grows stronger with resistance, our brains also need difficult tasks in order to strengthen and learn new skills.
Giving children math problems that require critical thinking and problem-solving helps them develop their math abilities, rather than simply memorizing formulas or numbers. In addition, being challenged in math can help improve overall academic performance and increase self-confidence in the subject. So instead of offering kids what may seem like an easier learning experience, try pushing them to stretch their math abilities and solve challenging problems. It may be initially difficult, but they’ll thank you in the long run.
The Dropkick Math Way Of Learning
At Dropkick Math Academy, we believe in encouraging growth while challenging children. Our math help services offer a fun way for them to practice math operations and learn from their mistakes.
We believe in not only the importance of education but also effort and self-motivation. That’s why we offer a rewards system for students who demonstrate a consistent and dedicated effort to learn. This could include participating in class discussions or taking on extra assignments.
We want to emphasize that learning is not just about receiving good grades but about actively engaging with the material and investing in one’s own education. We hope this reward system will encourage students to embrace the learning process and strive for personal growth and improvement. Ultimately, we believe that the most important reward is the knowledge and skills they will gain throughout their time with us at Dropkick Math Academy.
To learn more about our math tutoring programs, visit our website today!
