Are you nervous about teaching homeschool math? When entering the world of homeschooling, it’s natural to feel anxious.
More than 20 years ago, I was in graduate school to be a teacher. And even then, I knew I wanted to homeschool my future kids. Yet, when the time came to start, I was scared. I was making an unconventional choice and it wasn’t easy. But it’s been worth it. You can do it too.
Here are 7 tips to help you teach math in your homeschool.
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Tips for Teaching Homeschool Math
The following tips will help you feel more confident teaching homeschool math. Whether your child is just starting homeschool kindergarten or if you just pulled them out of public school, I do hope these points help.
1. Change Your Outlook
Maybe you didn’t plan to homeschool and feel pressure and resentment about this new season. Please, Friend, know this. Homeschooling can be the best situation in your child’s education.
If you’ve recently pulled your child out of public school, you can now focus on your child’s specific academic needs.
Revisit the Facts
Perhaps your child isn’t fluent in basic math facts. By homeschooling, you can focus the time and attention needed to help your child make serious gains.
Foundational math skills are:
- Place value
- Addition
- Subtraction
- Multiplication
- Division
2. Take A Step Back
Next, your child may need to take a step back in math for some time. It’s not only OK to do this, but a necessary step particularly if your child struggled in math previously. But, how do you figure out where to start teaching math to your child?
First, find out where your child stands in math.
Identify Your Starting Point
If you can get your child to take some sort of diagnostic test, that’s a great start. I recommend you find an online math assessment to get an idea of where your child is currently.
Take a look at these FREE homeschool math assessment options:
- Math Mammoth offers free online math assessments for students up to grade 7.
- Sonlight has free math assessments for middle school
- My Math Assistant also has high school-level math assessments
Maybe you realize that your child is stuck on multiplication facts. That’s where teaching homeschool math must begin. Check out a resource like Times Tales to help you jumpstart your child’s math fact mastery.
3. Take It One Step At A Time
My next piece of advice when teaching homeschool math is this. If your child is not a strong math student, focus on one concept at a time.
Determine the next step, articulate it, and then execute. For example,
- We will focus on multiplication facts this week.
- Specifically, we’ll target the 7s and the 8s time tables.
- Once we master those, we will move to the 4s and the 9s.
Of course, this is only an example. Modify based on your and your child’s needs. In the end, when you choose your child’s next step in math,
- Be specific,
- Intentional,
- Create a loose plan and follow it sequentially step by step.
Because when it comes to homeschool math, your child needs a solid foundation. Don’t rush through foundational skills to be “on target” with everyone else. It’s NOT worth it.
4. Math with ADHD Kids?
Many parents have been told that their child is a wiggly worm or off in his world.
Whether your child has been officially diagnosed with ADHD or not, know that the ADHD brain can be your child’s greatest strength.
If you’re overwhelmed with how to best navigate your child’s ADHD brain, be encouraged. Check out How to Homeschool ADHD: 27 Tips to Save Your Sanity for lots of support and strategies.
5. Incorporate Movement with Math
When trying to teach math facts to your student, I can’t more highly recommend incorporating movement into the experience.
This is especially beneficial if your child is one who “can’t sit still.” Friend, this “can’t sit still” is part of your child’s wiring and is how they learn.
Embrace this and use it to your child’s advantage. Practical ways to incorporate movement and much-needed input to prime the brain for learning include:
- Jumping Rope,
- Swinging on the swings,
- Jumping on the trampoline
Hold up flashcards in front of your students while they’re moving. Use these free addition flashcards and practice math facts while your student engages in movements.
In the end, movement increases the brain’s ability to receive and process information.
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6. Homeschool With Short Lessons
Using addition facts for the moment, grab a set of flash cards. Next and most importantly, reduce the pressure on your child by setting a time limit in advance.
Then take that deck of addition cards, go outside, set a timer for five minutes, and practice math facts. For younger students or those who struggle with time blindness, use a visual timer to help.
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RELATED: Homeschool Supply List: 27 Must-Haves for Your Homeschool!
7. Parents Are The Primary Teacher
Finally, remember that you’re the primary teacher now and quite frankly, you have always been. Your child will benefit from spending time strengthening math skills with you. Ready to look at homeschool math curriculum?
Check out How To Choose Homeschool Math Curriculum where I offer 5 things every mom needs to know before purchasing any curriculum. Save yourself money, stress, and time!
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