Tag: Math help

How To Have Deeper Conversations With Children About Math

Do you struggle to have meaningful conversations with your children about math? Of course, we want our kids to understand and remember their math lessons, but that’s not the only goal. Communicating honestly and openly during conversations about complex topics like mathematics can help create deeper connections between parents and children while building self-confidence and problem-solving skills. 

Today, we’ll explore some simple tips for cultivating a dialogue around mathematical learning that both adults and children can benefit from. We want children to think “math is fun” and want to be eager to learn. With proper conversations, you can help your child become more interested in mathematics and willing to engage more at school. 

Listen

When talking to your child about math, giving them a chance to be heard is important. Listening to what they have to say shows that you value their ideas and can lead to fruitful conversations that promote interest in the subject. Taking the time to actively listen to your child during these conversations can also help strengthen your relationship with them, creating a safe space where they feel comfortable discussing any topic. 

Remember, math can be tricky and potentially intimidating for some children, but by actively engaging with them and showing that you are listening attentively, you can help ease any anxieties they may have and develop a shared interest in the subject.

Don’t Interrupt

When it comes to having conversations with our children about math, it’s important to remember not to interrupt them if they pause. As parents, we tend to assume that any moments of silence during a conversation mean our child is struggling to express themselves. However, it’s important to remember that pauses are a natural part of communication and that children often need extra time to gather their thoughts. 

We can help our children feel more comfortable expressing themselves and building their confidence in math by waiting patiently. So, the next time your child needs a moment to think during a math conversation, try to resist the urge to interrupt and wait patiently for them to continue speaking when they are ready.

Ask For Their Reasoning

As parents and educators, our goal is to support our children’s learning in any way we can. When it comes to math, it may be tempting to simply give an answer or explain a formula to a child who is struggling with a question. However, taking the time to truly understand our child’s point of view can make all the difference. 

By asking questions such as, “Can you tell me more?” or “How would you explain it to someone else?”, we can encourage our children to articulate their thought process and gain a deeper understanding of the math concept at hand. Focusing on our child’s perspective helps them improve their math skills and fosters critical thinking and problem-solving abilities in the long run.

Fostering A Math Relationship

By engaging in deeper conversations with your child about math, you are proving to them that you care about their ideas and helping to boost their confidence. Math can often be seen as a dry and technical subject, lacking the excitement and creativity that many children seek in their studies. However, by initiating meaningful conversations about math with your child, you can help show them that math is filled with opportunities for exploration, experimentation, and problem-solving. 

By breaking down complex concepts into understandable language, you can develop a shared understanding of the subject and enable your child to develop the skills they need to succeed in this challenging field.

Positive Math Talk

When speaking with your child, it is essential to keep the conversation positive to counteract any negative feelings children may hold towards mathematics. Positive math talk is a teaching approach that aims to change students’ attitudes toward mathematics and problem-solving through the use of positive language. It encourages students to develop a growth mindset and have a willingness to try new things. 

When teachers use positive math talk in the classroom, it creates a comfortable and encouraging learning environment that students feel comfortable to engage in. Rather than focusing on the negativity and pressure associated with math, this teaching approach motivates children to approach problem-solving with enthusiasm and optimism. This method has been shown to increase student’s confidence in math and improve their overall performance.

Talking About Math

At Dropkick Math Academy, we believe that talking about math can help children better understand complex concepts. By engaging in conversation about math, our tutors can help build a child’s confidence and spark curiosity to help them thrive in future studies. 

In our programs, we don’t simply show children how to solve problems, we discuss the ways the answer could be achieved. We also try to use examples of how math is used in everyday life and even include financial literacy in some programs. By conversing with children about math and teaching them how it is part of everyday life, we can help them become more engaged in their studies. 

If your child is struggling with math, speaking with them about it is an excellent place to start. A deep conversation can help them understand that you are there to listen and help them. It can also give you a good idea of where their misunderstandings of math may be. 

If your child appears to have a gap in learning, a math tutor may be the answer. At Dropkick Math Academy, we focus on the four pillars of math (number sense, operational sense, proportional reasoning, and algebraic reasoning). This can help children better understand the root of math instead of simply teaching them how to get through the math question they may be stuck on at that moment in time. Our unique curriculum will equip children to handle future math concepts. 

So, if you are looking for a math tutor that goes the extra mile, don’t just hit Google and search for ‘grade 4 math help.’ Contact Dropkick Math Academy. Our group of certified Ontario teachers can help your child overcome their fear of math and set them up for continued success!

Get started by learning more about our programs today. 

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.

How To Know If Your Child Has Number Sense

Knowing if your child has number sense is something every parent/guardian should be concerned about. In this blog post, we will discuss the signs that indicate good number sense. We will also look at how math tutoring can help those with a gap in learning. 

A Daunting Concept

We all want our children to grow up well-rounded and equipped with knowledge, but some skills seem more elusive than others. This can be especially true when it comes to math; while you may know the basics of teaching addition and subtraction, do you really understand how your child is grasping the concepts of number sense? 

As daunting as the concept might be, understanding number sense is an essential part of setting your child up for academic success – so let’s take a look at what it means to have number sense and how we can help our kids develop it!

What Is Number Sense?

Have you ever encountered situations where your children are solving math problems in their heads, and the answer just seems to pop right out? If so, then it’s likely that they have what is known as number sense – a concept which has become increasingly important for parents to recognize.

Plain and simple, number sense is a person’s ability to understand, relate, and connect numbers. It is the sense of what numbers mean. It is an important skill for mathematical learning and competent number problem-solving. It includes the ability to understand number relationships, magnitude, and number representation. Number sense is a building block for later number skills like addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

How To Tell?

At this point, you may be asking yourself, how do I know if my child has number sense? First, children with trouble with number sense often show signs at an early age. These children will typically tend to struggle with basic operations such as addition and subtraction. They may also exhibit trouble with everyday tasks such as handling money, judging time and measuring quantities. 

As children get older and start learning more complex mathematical concepts and principles, they will be likely to say they “don’t get it,” or that it “doesn’t make sense.” If this sounds familiar, then your child may be missing number sense. 

If this problem continues, a child can increasingly feel lost as they move up through the school grades. Year after year, the gap in learning will grow between what they are being taught and what they truly understand. When older children lack number sense, they need to work harder and longer than they should have to solve math problems. This is a significant reason why so many children may need math tutoring.  

How Can I Teach My Child Number Sense?

If your child has a learning gap and is missing number sense, you are most likely wondering how you can help. There are many things that parents/guardians can do to help their children. 

According to research, number sense can be developed by providing meaningful activities that allow children to explore number concepts in different engaging ways. At Dropkick Math Academy, we believe that the development of number sense depends on fostering active engagement in number experiences from an early age that promotes the ability to think flexibly about numbers in various contexts.

Teaching number sense to a child involves presenting numbers in a way the child can understand, providing opportunities for number exploration, and guiding their discovery of number relationships. With guided instruction, children can connect number symbols with quantity, associate numbers with specific patterns, recognize numerical sequences and work on basic number problems. 

Fun activities like counting objects out loud or matching numerals to daily activities help children learn number sense quickly. Math manipulatives can be a great tool to help children learn about number sense. 

Engaging with stories about counting or singing number songs can also be inexpensive and entertaining ways to teach number sense to a child. With patience, dedication and encouragement from parents or teachers, any child can develop their number sense faster.

Getting Help From A Professional

In addition to learning at home, many children will need extra help from a professional. At Dropkick Math Academy, we use certified Ontario teachers to ensure our students receive the best quality of math tutoring available. Our certified teachers understand how to teach children at every level and can provide customized strategies tailored to every student’s needs. 

Our tutors are dedicated employees with a proven track record of success in the education field and strive for excellence in all aspects of tutoring – from advising students on the techniques needed to understand complex math problems to helping them understand and reshape their approach to problem-solving. Our certified Ontario teachers are the glue that binds our program together!

Getting The Help They Need

As children begin to learn math, it is vital for them to improve their skills and practice number sense so it does not last into adulthood. Unfortunately, the pandemic caused many students to have a loss in learning over the past couple of years, so it is imperative that children get the help they need before it becomes a bigger problem. 

At Dropkick Math Academy, our programs focus on the four pillars of math (number sense, operational sense, proportional reasoning, algebraic reasoning), which help to ensure a child’s knowledge of mathematics starts at the root. 

Click to learn more about our programs and how we can help get your child back on track while boosting their confidence in math!

New Funding Available From The Ontario Government

Are you a resident in Ontario? If so, did you know that you can apply for direct Catch Up payments to help pay for student learning support? These payments can range from $200 to $250 and are meant to fill gaps that may have emerged from the disruption of education due to COVID‑19. 

This is an important program that Ontario has specially developed for its residents, and it can provide invaluable support to those struggling with their educational needs. Altogether, this is a great opportunity to take advantage of if you’re an Ontario resident. The Ontario government wants its citizens to succeed and is providing these Catch Up payments as a way to do just that! 

Using The Ontario Catch-Up Payments

Ontario Catch Up payments are a great way to get the tutoring your child needs without breaking the bank. If you have been worried that your budget won’t cover costs, these Ontario-regulated payments can help lower fees and make tutoring more achievable. 

It’s an ideal solution for families needing assistance in math but who don’t want to spend too much money. With Ontario Catch Up payments, you can put worries about budget aside and focus on finding the right tutor, so your child gets the help they need at school.

Who Is Eligible?

Ontario families with students aged 18 and under enrolled in school are encouraged to take advantage of the recently announced catch-up payment. This payment provides financial support to Ontario households affected by COVID-19, allowing them to get back on their feet. Additionally, Ontario residents with children between 18 and 21 with special needs may also be eligible for this payment program. If you think you qualify for the Catch Up payments, please visit Ontario’s website for more details and eligibility criteria.

But don’t wait! The deadline to apply is March 31, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

How To Apply?

The Ontario government has made applying for the Catch Up payments easy. Simply visit their website and sign up through their secure website. You will need to create a profile to check the status of your application. Only one parent/guardian is eligible to apply and receive payment, and you must submit a separate application for each student.  

For more information about applying for the Catch Up payments, visit the Ontario government FAQ page. 

Recovering From The Pandemic

As the pandemic shifts to our rear mirror, research into the pandemic’s effect on our children’s education is just beginning to roll in. Of all the subjects that children have been impacted by, math has taken one of the hardest hits. With public school districts across the globe having little to no time to prepare for the massive shift in learning and teaching styles, many students fell behind in their math studies. 

Now our focus needs to be shifted towards bridging that gap of learning and bringing our students back up to speed. The pandemic has had a major effect on our children’s education, but its effects do not have to be lasting if we take action now.

How To Reflect And Grow Into The Next Year

As the new school year begins, many parents are considering how their child can reflect on the past year and grow into the next one. It can be helpful for students to take some time to reflect on their previous year of schooling before diving into a new one. This reflection can take many forms, from writing in a journal to discussing with classmates and teachers. By taking time to reflect on the past year, students can identify their strengths and areas for improvement. 

Students can start the new year with a clear purpose and direction by thinking about what they want to achieve. This self-awareness is essential for growth and development. Additionally, reflecting on the past year can help students set goals for the new school year. For example, a student may wish to take more time to focus on math in the upcoming months, setting their goals on some new math learning techniques. 

Creating A Plan

Ultimately, reflecting on the past year is an excellent way for students to prepare for the new one. While some of this reflection should be done at the end of the school year, doing some self-evaluations at the beginning of the school year can help your child get clarity and reveal opportunities they may not have thought of during the summer months. By understanding their goals for the upcoming year, students can capitalize on their strengths and create a plan for filling any gaps. It can also give insight into how much they have grown during the last school year, giving them confidence once they realize how they have thrived in their educational journey. 

Summer Brain

As a parent, this time of year, it can become frustrating when you ask your child to reflect on the previous year. They are most likely to still have “summer brain,” making it difficult to place and plan effectively. But by helping them stay focused and building on what they learned last year, they may start to open up and discuss how they want to grow into the coming year. 

Start by asking your child simple questions about their favourite subjects and activities that they experienced last year. Remind them of any field trips they took to get them thinking about the fun they had over the past year. You can also ask them about their favourite teachers and what made them stand out among the others. These types of questions can help to start the conversation and enable a child to remember back to the past year. 

Work Through Disappointment

As your child reflects on their past year, they may encounter some disappointments, such as missing out on a field trip or getting a lower grade than expected. Try to reassure them that having an unfinished list is not a failure but an opportunity to work through their feelings of disappointment. Teaching your child how to work through these disappointments can be an essential life skill. 

Children must understand that plans change, everyone processes information differently, and things don’t always go smoothly. Reflecting on these instances over the past year can offer a great life lesson for the years ahead. 

Celebrate Thriving

Just as your child needs to work through their disappointments, they also need to celebrate when they thrived over the past year. They can boost their confidence by marking their achievements and look forward to learning more this coming year. Children often need to be reminded when they have taken that extra step and grown in their learning. Showing them how far they have come can give them the boost they need to look forward to everything new they will be learning next year. 

Encourage your child to keep records of their learning experience. Keeping a journal is a great way to track their progress and help them reflect on all their accomplishments when it comes time. 

Helping Your Child Grow

If your child has expressed an area of struggle from the previous year, it is vital to take steps to help them grow this year. Due to the pandemic, many students are falling behind in mathematics, so your child may express disappointment in their grades, or they may give up on their learning. If you have noticed a change in your child’s attitude towards math, they may suffer from math anxiety caused by a loss of learning from classroom disruptions. 

To help ensure your child is on track, we offer an assessment upon registration to determine any gaps in understanding. If it seems like a child is experiencing gaps in learning, we can recommend a program that will target the missing knowledge. 

Our programs offer engaging games focusing on the four pillars of math (number sense, operational sense, proportional reasoning, and algebraic reasoning). We want your child to leave our programs saying, “math is fun!” and want to continue learning more advanced math operations. 

Learn more about Dropkick Math and how our programs can help your child excel in mathematics today!

How The Pandemic Caused The Worst Education Crisis In History

It’s been a few years since the pandemic hit, and we are starting to see its effects on education. Schools were closed, children were out of school for extended periods of time, and virtual learning was introduced. This was all done in an effort to keep children safe from the virus. But what about the long-term effects? Are our children worse off now than they were before? In this blog post, we will talk about the worst education crisis in history.

Research is now starting to come forth concerning education and how the pandemic influenced our children. Some parents were happy to keep their children home from school, while others wanted them back in class. No matter what side of the argument you were on, all parents wanted the same thing – for their children to keep up with schooling and not fall behind. To try and keep up with their education, some parents turned to online math help or searched for a tutoring company. 

The Research 

While some educational interventions were able to help keep children on track in the interim, the overall effect of the pandemic is now being recorded as researchers conduct studies. So far, studies are showing that the coronavirus pandemic has caused alarmingly high learning losses in math and reading. This loss of education has been felt worldwide and is now reported as the worst education crisis ever recorded. 

One of the largest studies done to date on the effects of the covid pandemic on school children around the world was conducted by Unicef, UNESCO and The World Bank. The results were published in a new report and attributed school closures as one of the most significant factors in disrupting children’s education across the board from low-income to high-income countries. 

The report found that schools were forced to close quickly and adapt the curriculum to an online learning environment, often leaving teachers without the proper resources or training. Despite the best efforts by schools, the report found that “the deployment, uptake, and effectiveness of such programs has varied greatly, and in most countries, offered an inadequate substitute for in-person learning.” 

In Canadian studies, researchers have found that students who switched between remote and in-person learning had a tumultuous education experience amid COVID-19. Many education advocates are now highlighting the loss in education as a longer-term concern that will persist even after COVID-19 wanes.

Children Who Are Already Struggling

Researchers have noted that these disruptions in education have affected students who were already struggling before the pandemic hit even more than others. This means that for students who were already working through challenges at school, the pandemic made it even more difficult to have an enriching educational experience. 

Even without a pandemic, teachers look for students struggling with learning losses and find ways to work with the child toward eliminating the gap. For some students, this means summer school or after-school tutoring. However, with an added loss of education from the pandemic, the worry is that there is just not enough time or resources for these students to catch up to their peers. 

While Canada has yet to release any official information regarding education loss caused by the pandemic, other countries have the metrics to prove that children have fallen behind where they should be. It has also yet to be determined how this will affect them long-term. Although this is disturbing news, parents need to discuss the loss of education away from their children. Students have been through a lot in the past couple of years, and anxiety may already be high. If they believe they may be at risk of falling behind, it can add extra stress and cause them even more pressure. Just remember that almost every family is in the same boat, and the government is stepping in to help make a difference.  

Ontario’s Learning Action Recovery Plan

As schools scramble to find ways to support learning recovery and work on a further plan to target learning loss head-on, many provinces throughout Canada are offering additional funding to support reading and math for all students. For example, in Ontario, this comes in the form of Ontario’s Learning Recovery Action Plan for Students, which has been designed to help students who have been struggling in school catch up and get back on track. 

As research shows, the pandemic has caused the worst education crisis in history, the question becomes how we fix it and help our children catch up without overwhelming them. Many educators are calling for protecting and increasing investments into education, saying it should be the first among priorities to get the children the help they need. 

Understanding Fact Families

Many parents remember learning about fact families when they were in first grade. But let’s face it, for many of us, that was long ago! So, for those who don’t remember, fact families establish the relationship between numbers and aid in understanding the logic behind addition and subtraction. 

While fact families are typically introduced in the early years, they are important throughout schooling. By understanding fact families, students can see that there is more than one way to solve a problem and they will use this knowledge as they encounter more complex math operations. However, if an older child has any misunderstandings about fact families, it may hinder their math advancement. So, going back and revisiting fact families may be advantageous. 

Fact Families and Addition & Subtraction Facts

One of the reasons fact families are so important is because they help children learn their addition and subtraction facts. When children first learn these facts, it can be difficult to keep track of all the combinations. However, by grouping them into fact families, children can more easily see the relationships between the different facts. 

A fact family is made up of three numbers and can be made up of at least four math facts. For example, if a child knows that 3 + 4 = 7 then they can also deduce that 4 + 3 = 7 and 7 – 4 = 3 and 7 – 3 = 4. 

You can see that each number bond fact is related to two other facts in the family. In other words, they share two of the same numbers. 

Subtraction can be especially difficult for some students than addition, but fact families can often help. Overall, fact families can be a helpful way for children to remember their facts, especially in the early stages of learning them.

Fact Families and Multiplication & Division Facts

In addition to helping children learn addition and subtraction facts, fact families can also help with multiplication and division. This is because multiplication and division are actually just inverse operations of each other. In other words, if you know one multiplication fact from a fact family, you also know the corresponding division fact. 

For example, if you know that 3 x 4 = 12 then you also know that 12 / 3 = 4 and 4 x 3 = 12 and 12 / 4 = 3. So, by learning one multiplication or division fact from a fact family, a child actually learns three facts! As students see that they can use known facts to find unknown facts quickly, they will increase their fact fluency.

Flexible Thinking

Fact families help children learn to think flexibly about numbers because they see that there is more than one way to make a number using addition or subtraction (or multiplication and division). This is an important skill because it helps children understand that there are often different ways to solve problems. It also helps them learn that numbers can be decomposed and recomposed differently. 

When children understand how fact families work, they can use them to solve problems in different ways. For example, if a child knows that 6 + 4 = 10 then they can also work out that 4 + 6 = 10. So, if they are given the problem ‘find three numbers that add up to ten’ they could list 6 + 4 + 0, 5 + 5 + 0 or 4 + 3 + 3 as solutions, among others. Understanding Fact Families also helps children develop fluency in mental calculation because they can recall part of one fact family to help them solve another problem from the same family. 

Many math learning techniques can help children with mathematics, but combining fact families and mental math is an excellent way to help children succeed in their future. When children can use their knowledge of fact families and solve problems mentally, they are forced to think about the mathematical principles involved in the problem. This helps them to develop a deeper understanding of the concept. 

The Importance Of Fact Families

As you can see, there are many reasons why children need to learn about fact families. If your child is struggling with math, working on memorizing some of the basic addition and subtraction facts from different fact families could be a helpful way to help them improve their skills. Additionally, watching for opportunities to point out related multiplication and division facts will help your child make connections between different concepts which is beneficial for their overall understanding of mathematics.

How To Teach Your Child About Fact Families

Now that you understand more about fact families, it will be easier to help your child understand them. Math manipulatives are a great way to help children better understand fact families. Manipulatives are objects that can be moved or manipulated to help children learn. They come in various shapes and sizes and can be used to help explain everything from basic addition and subtraction to more complex concepts. 

Two-Sided Counters

Two-Sided Counters

Two-sided counters are easy to use and can help explain fact families to younger children. Start by setting out 8 of them. Flip over 3 of them so 3 are yellow and 5 are red. Then, ask your child how much that makes. Write the equation 3+5=8. Continue this with the subtraction equations and other numbers and equations. Ask your child what patterns they see, and help to recognize the fact family. 

At Dropkick Math, we understand the need for students to develop an understanding of fact families. Our math help services allow students to learn foundational math skills and fill in any misunderstandings in mathematics while enabling them to discover new ways of learning. Through proven strategies and manipulatives combined with an accelerated learning approach, we help students master math operations while boosting their confidence. 

We offer an alternative to traditional online math tutors, as all of our classes are taught by certified Ontario teachers who make learning fun. We focus on the root of any mathematical misunderstandings and work with children and their parents to boost confidence in math and understand relationships. 

Learn more about our programs today!

Why Your Child Should Practice Mental Math

As a parent, you want your child to excel in school. You may not realize it, but one of the best ways to help them improve their math grades is to encourage them to practice mental math. Mental math is simply solving math problems in their head without needing paper and a pencil. By using mental math practices, children can understand mathematics better. Here are three reasons why your child should practice mental math.

Greater Understanding

Many math learning techniques can help children with mathematics, but understanding how to do math mentally is one of the top practices to help children succeed in their future. When children can solve problems mentally, they are forced to think about the mathematical principles involved in the problem. This helps them to develop a deeper understanding of the concept. 

For example, when adding two numbers mentally, children must understand that they are combining two groups of objects and that the answer will be the total number of objects in both groups. This understanding is critical for more complex concepts such as multiplication and division.

Become Better Problem-Solvers

Mental math requires children to find creative ways to solve problems. For example, when confronted with a difficult division problem, children may have to think of creative ways to break down the problem into smaller pieces that they can then solve mentally. 

By working through a problem mentally, children can see how the various parts of a problem fit together. This deep understanding will allow them to tackle more complicated problems in the future and will serve them well in all areas of their lives, not just mathematics.

Improve Memory And Concentration

Mental math requires children to remember mathematical principles and formulas while also concentrating on the problem at hand. This focus and concentration will help them remember information better and improve their ability to concentrate on tasks for extended periods of time. All of these skills are important not just for school but for life in general. 

The Research Behind Mental Math

Mental math has been recognized through various studies as a way to help children get a better understanding of mathematics. One such study was published in the journal Cogent Education which analyzed 118 students in grade 5, exploring how mental computation and mathematical reasoning affect each other.

Researchers found a significant positive correlation between mental computation and mathematical reasoning. It was noted that rather than exposing students to familiar math problems, students need to be encouraged to do mental computing on non-routine problems in order to develop their skills. 

Another interesting study from Duke University looked at mental math from a health perspective. All participants in the study had brain scans done after performing mental math. It was found that mental math engages the brain’s prefrontal cortex which has been linked to better emotional health. 

Practicing Mental Math

Practicing mental math with your child is an easy and effective way of learning. When a child is taught rounding, estimating and fact fluency, as well as having them remember and reproduce steps and solutions, they are performing mental math. So, you may already be practicing mental math with your child and not even realize it!

If you are having trouble getting your child motivated to practice mental math, the key may be to make it fun. For example, math problems based on real-life situations can engage students by providing clear, tangible ways to apply knowledge. 

A great way to involve your child and use their mental math skills is by taking them to the grocery store. There are multiple ways they can test their mental math skills by calculating discounts on products, estimating the weight of fruits and vegetables, and even calculating how much meat it will take to feed the family dinner. Not only will your child find the lesson more interesting, but they will understand why it is worth knowing. 

A Valuable Skill

Mental math is a valuable skill that all children should learn. It has been proven to help children better understand mathematical concepts, become better problem-solvers, and improve memory and concentration skills. So encourage your child to put away the calculator and start practicing mental math today!

Mental Math At Dropkick Math Academy

At Dropkick Math, we are an alternative to an online math tutor as we don’t just address the child’s issues at the time. Our certified Ontario teachers get to the root of the misunderstanding and help fill in any educational gaps a child may be experiencing. Part of our curriculum identifies the importance of practicing mental math, and our teachers encourage their students to use mental math skills.

Our programs offer a fun and engaging way of learning, which has been proven to keep children interested and wanting to learn more. By focusing on the four pillars of math (number sense, operational sense, proportional reasoning, and algebraic reasoning) our students learn the fundamentals of mathematics and build upon their knowledge. 

Dropkick Math Academy offers math programs in Toronto and the surrounding areas. All of our programs offer small-group virtual programming taught by certified Ontario teachers. This allows your child to learn in a comfortable and familiar setting while receiving the individualized attention they need to succeed. Learn more about our programs today!

When You Should Speak To Your Child’s Math Teacher

Any parent with a school-aged child knows that math can be a challenge. Sometimes, it can be hard to know when to step in and offer math help with their homework or when to let the teacher take the lead. By contacting your child’s teacher, they may be able to help. However, many parents often wonder when they should be reaching out.

While there is no definite answer as to when parents should start communicating with their children’s teachers about their academics, there are some guidelines that could be of help. As a general rule, if you are questioning whether you should reach out to your child’s teacher, it is time to speak with them. 

Staying Informed

The decision of when exactly to start speaking with one’s child’s teacher depends on multiple factors such as individual parenting styles, the age of the student, and subjects being covered in class. In general, communication between all these entities should gradually increase as the academic year progresses. By following these simple guidelines, parents will hopefully find themselves more informed and able to assist their children in reaching success at school and home!

A Support System

Good communication between parents and teachers is essential for ensuring that children thrive in school. Even if a child is doing well in math and seems to be having no trouble in school, it is still generally recommended that parents communicate with teachers regularly to build a support system for the child. This is because the home and school environments are both important for a child’s development, and parents and teachers need to work together to provide the best possible education for the child. If there are no immediate problems, most teachers recommend checking in with them every couple of months. 

A supportive system is essential for every child to reach their full potential. A support system should include a parent or guardian involved in their child’s education and a teacher invested in their students’ success. A parent or guardian can provide support at home by helping with homework, monitoring progress, and communicating with the child’s teacher. A teacher can support the classroom by teaching effectively, providing feedback, and creating a positive learning environment. When both a parent and teacher are providing support, it increases the child’s chances of academic success.

Addressing Issues

As a math teacher, I am often asked by parents how their child is doing in class. While report cards provide a snapshot of a student’s grades at the end of each marking period, they may not be able to identify any areas of struggle until it is too late to address them. For this reason, I believe it is extremely helpful for parents to receive regular updates on their child’s progress. Whether it is through a parent-teacher conference, email, or phone call, taking the time to keep parents in the loop can make a world of difference. Not only will they be able to identify any areas of concern early on, but they will also be aware of any successes their child is having. As a result, parents can play an active role in their child’s education, allowing them time before report cards come out to address any issues if necessary. 

However, it is important not to smother one’s child with too much guidance and hovering; otherwise, they may feel inadequate or shy away from asking for help when needed. Your child’s teacher will be able to help advise you on how much help you should be offering your child if they are struggling and how often you should stay in contact with the school.  

Asking For Help

It can be difficult for parents to know how their child is progressing in school, especially if their child is hesitant to ask for help. However, by keeping communication channels open with their child’s teacher, parents can help ensure their child doesn’t fall behind. This communication can be especially important for those students who tend to be shy or introverted, as they may be less likely to ask for help independently. By remaining involved in their child’s education, parents can play an essential role in helping them succeed in school.

When reaching out to a teacher for support, they can offer advice for homework or activities that parents can do with their children that can be beneficial for math learning. Teachers are a wealth of information and are happy to offer advice to help your child succeed in their education. Just like you would tell your child to ask for help, as a parent, there is nothing wrong with asking a teacher for help!

Relationships

At Dropkick Math, we believe relationships are the primary key to learning success. Our programs offer the option for parents to become involved in the learning process. Our instructors will help build a parent’s mathematics capacity so they can adequately support their child’s journey in elementary math. We believe that success is achieved by learning together!

Our teachers offer a different approach to math tutoring, breaking down the misunderstanding of mathematics and making learning fun. While there are many math help websites, Dropkick Math Academy is the first of its kind in Ontario to offer an interactive, fun learning experience taught by certified Ontario teachers. 

Learn more about our programs today!

The Benefits of Technology In The Classroom

It’s no secret that technology has become an integral part of our lives. From the moment we wake up to the moment we go to bed, we are inundated with screens and gadgets. And as technology becomes more ubiquitous, so does its impact on the classroom. Many teachers now harness the power of technology to help students learn in new and innovative ways. But what are the benefits of using technology in the classroom? Let’s take a look.

A Profound Impact On Education

Here at Dropkick Math, we are a tutoring company that believes technology has profoundly impacted education. In recent years, the classroom has changed drastically. Traditional chalkboards have given way to digital whiteboards, and classrooms are now full of iPads. 

This technology has transformed the way teachers teach, and students learn. Some benefits of technology in the classroom include teachers being able to easily access resources and information online and use digital tools to engage students in new ways. Students can also benefit from the use of technology to improve their learning, including doing research, taking notes, and collaborating with classmates. 

In many ways, technology has made the classroom a more engaging and effective place for learning. Let’s take a deeper look into some of the many benefits of technology in the classroom. 

An Engaged Environment

Many people believe that technology is nothing more than a distraction. However, technology can actually be used to encourage active participation in the classroom. Devices like computers, tablets, and other types of technology can be used to create interactive and fun activities out of traditionally dull subjects. For example, a teacher could use a computer to show a video about a certain topic. Then, students could use their tablets as a back channel for discussing the video while it is being presented or creating a podcast, blog, or other social media post about the importance of the information shared in the video. This would help to keep the students engaged and interested in the lesson. 

In addition, technology can also be used to provide visual aids or information that might be difficult to understand otherwise. If a student is having trouble understanding a concept, the teacher could use a tablet to show a step-by-step, animated process of how to solve the problem. Technology can thus be used in many different ways to help students learn and engage with the material.

Incorporating Different Learning Styles

Every child learns differently, and teachers need to be able to adjust their lessons to fit each student’s needs. Some children are visual learners and benefit from seeing pictures and videos. Others are auditory learners and learn best by listening to lectures or discussions. And some children are kinesthetic learners who need to be actively engaged in order to absorb the material. Technology can be a valuable tool for accommodating all of these different learning styles. 

For example, a teacher can use a document camera to demonstrate the use of concrete manipulatives or create visual representations of mathematical concepts, making it easier for visual learners to see. Or they can use a voice-recognition program to help get their thinking on paper, which can be helpful for auditory learners. There are also many apps and websites that provide interactive games and activities, which can engage kinesthetic learners and make the material more memorable. By using technology in the classroom, teachers can ensure that all students have access to an education that meets their needs.

Improves Collaboration

In the past, students were often reluctant to ask for help from their peers. They didn’t want to be seen as incapable or unintelligent. However, that has changed in recent years, thanks in part to the increased use of technology in the classroom. Now, when students are working on technology-based tasks, they are more likely to seek help from their classmates. This is because many technology-based tasks involve other aspects, such as problem-solving and critical thinking, that can lead to situations where students need to seek help from their peers. 

Additionally, when students are separated into small groups, those who are more technologically advanced can assist their inexperienced peers. As a result of increased technology in the classroom, teachers have observed an increased frequency of students helping each other when using technology. 

Prepares Children For The Future

As technology becomes increasingly prevalent in society, students need to learn how to use it effectively. There are endless amounts of software that can be used, PowerPoint is a common one that is used in the classroom. But it is also used in business and academia, and students who learn to use it to create a clear and concise presentation are acquiring a valuable skill. 

When students learn how to use technology, they are developing skills they need to succeed in a technology-driven world. In addition, younger students are often more adaptable to new technologies than older students, so introducing instructional technology in the classroom in early grades can help prepare students for future digital demands.

Here at Dropkick Math, by using technology in our math online help, we are able to provide an engaging and stimulating learning environment for all our students. Technology also allows us to connect with more children and reach those who may not have access to traditional education methods. We believe that all children deserve the opportunity to learn and succeed, and technology is one way that we can make that happen.

To learn more about our math online tutoring programs and if they may be the right fit for your child, visit our website today!