If you’re looking for math strategies to help your struggling student, you’re in the right place. Maybe your child has ADHD. Perhaps they’re Autistic or have dyscalculia. Maybe they’ve got no diagnosis.
Regardless, if you’re like any homeschool teacher you feel the pressure to help your kid with math.
You may have tried every math strategy you can think of and nothing’s working. Every day is stressful as your child struggles to understand math concepts and skills. And you’re overwhelmed right alongside your kid.
I hear you as I’ve been there and get it. So, today I’m sharing 21 math strategies to help you teach your child more effectively.
Ready to end the stress? Let’s get started.
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21 Math Strategies to Help Any Student
The following are 21 math strategies that are sure to help you support your student.
1. Behavior is Information
First things first. If your child is struggling with math or any subject, remind yourself of this key principle.
Behavior is information.
Yep.
Tears, meltdowns, or any resistance to learning is your clue that something is going on behind the scenes.
When you see this, I encourage you to use this behavior to your advantage.
Math strategy number 1: Remember, “Behavior is information.”
2. Drop What You Think You Know
It’s important to clear up some misconceptions about learning. Math strategy number 2 is to address a serious elephant in the proverbial “homeschool math” room.
So, what is this “so-called” elephant in our homeschools?
When we homeschool moms run into brick walls with our kids, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.
What do I do?
I don’t know what else to do.
I’ve tried everything.They’re behind.
Lord knows that I’ve run through these questions a thousand times myself (even in the past week). I get it.
However, what I’ve realized is we get stuck in what we think we know about teaching and learning.
Math strategy number 2 says, “Examine the math mentality.”
Examine the Mentality
Examine the validity of “Math should be taught like ______” mentality.
- Hint… it doesn’t take 12 years to learn math,
- Teaching math well is not counted in the number of problems, pages, or hours spent,
- Completing the curriculum or grade level is not the goal.
- Focus on helping your child take the next step in math- no matter how small.
Small chunks of intentional teaching & learning over time will yield fruit.
It’s okay to stop stressing about the clock and take your child’s next step.
3. Stop Pushing
In truth, most of us grew up in the traditional education system. In the end, that’s the framework from which we often teach math in our homeschools.
But the reality is that in that system, children are often pushed along without the solid math foundation that they truly need.
This makes math extremely stressful and often, unattainable.
Unquestionably, this perpetuates a belief in many students (and adults) that they’re inherently “bad” at math.
This mindset alone can make or break a student’s academic success.
Math strategy number 3 is this: Stop pushing when they’re not ready.
4. Assess the Child in Front of You
You may be a new homeschool mom or a veteran homeschool mom. Regardless, when our kids struggle to learn, we’ve got to stop.
Then we must look at the child in front of us. (And this is something I have to do all the time- trust me.)
Specifically, the best math strategy is to assess your child’s current skill level in various areas of math.
In the end, when a child is resistant to any type of schoolwork, it’s often due to a gap in specific foundational skills.
When we tease out these weaker areas, we’re better armed to help our struggling students accordingly.
Homeschool math strategy number 4: Assess the child in front of you and then go from there.
5. Don’t Rush to Be on Grade Level
It’s especially important to stop and search for root issues because each math skill builds upon the others. Think about it.
- A solid understanding of addition facts is essential to understanding subtraction.
- Multiplication fluency is essential for understanding and mastering division.
Finding your child’s pain point is necessary to move forward.
Kids cannot confidently move forward in math if they NEED to step backward to master the preceding concepts.
Math teaching strategy number 5: Don’t rush to be on grade level.
6. Try a Formal Math Assessment
If you’re not sure where your child is stuck, try using a formal math placement assessment.
By completing a math assessment, you’ll have a better idea of where to start.
Sonlight has several assessment tools listed on their website to help determine where your child is in math. CTC Math, one of my favorite math programs, has excellent diagnosistic tests as well.
Math strategy number 6 is to try a formal math assessment.
7. Informal Math Assessment
On the other hand, if your child struggles with test anxiety, you may have to approach it another way. Specifically, you can ask yourself some basic questions to give you a starting point.
For example,
- When he’s working on two-digit by two-digit multiplication, is it the basic facts he’s struggling with?
- Or is he struggling to remember the steps involved?
- Or is he struggling to remember the steps involved?
- Does my child understand the math terminology and does she understand the actual instructions?
- ‘Hmmm… Maybe I need to review what a factor is before moving on to the Highest Common Factor.’
- ‘Hmmm… Maybe I need to review what a factor is before moving on to the Highest Common Factor.’
- If I read the word problem aloud to my child, is he better able to process the needed calculation and steps involved?
- Is it a calculation issue or a language-based issue?
- Attention or anxiety issue?
Math strategy number 7 is to do an informal math assessment if your child has test anxiety.
8. Focus on One Thing at a Time
Once you know where your child is struggling in math, move on to math teaching strategy number 8.
Focus on one math concept or skill at a time.
Side note: This is referred to as mastery-based learning. There are many mastery-based homeschool math curriculum options. Often these programs are effective with struggling students.
With a small amount of intention and focus, your child can more efficiently learn the skills needed to move on to the next math concept.
Math strategy number 8 is to focus on one math concept at a time.
9. Take Your Time
Be willing to take as much time as your child needs to master foundational math skills.
For example, if your child is weak in subtraction facts, plan to spend a month working ONLY on subtraction facts.
You may think that’s way too long to spend on one concept. However, that’s the exact mindset that hurts kids’ math success long-term.
Math facts are foundational to upper levels of math.
You’ll never regret giving your child the time he needs to master them.
Math strategy number 9 is to take your time.
10. Play Games
Play games! There’s no learning tool more powerful than intrinsic motivation.
When your kid is having fun, he’s motivated. Use math games as a supplement or complete math replacement for some time.
For example, if your child is learning addition facts, try the game Sum Swamp. Or if you have an older student, work on multiplication facts and strategy by playing Math Rush. Or check out dice game 10,000.
Math Puzzles
Another suggestion is to work on puzzles. The benefits of using puzzles are multi-faceted. For example, doing puzzles trains the brain in complex problem-solving skills that will serve your child in math.
Math strategy number 10 is to play math games and do puzzles!
Breathe and Not Give in To Fear
Whatever you do, don’t attempt to plow through the basic concepts because you think your child should be further along.
By doing this, your child will never get what he’s missing. Fear is a LIAR.
We all know that we can’t get to the top of a mountain without taking one step at a time. Likewise, math is the same way. You’ll be shocked at how little time it takes your child to make huge strides when focusing on one skill at a time.
11. Short Math Bursts Throughout the Day
Processing too much new information at one time is overwhelming for kids and adults. This is especially true when working on a subject that causes stress and anxiety.
Instead, plan short, powerful bursts of intentional one-on-one instruction time.
For example,
- Spend 5 minutes practicing math facts in the morning,
- 5 minutes at lunchtime,
- And then sprinkle in 5 minutes of math practice before dinner (preferably on a trampoline.)
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In the end, stress-free pockets of math throughout the day allow math concepts to move from short-term to long-term memory. And this is the goal: long-term retention.
Teaching math strategy number 11 is this. Limit the amount of time you work on math.
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12. Use Memory Work
If your child doesn’t know multiplication facts, try skip-counting songs.
- Cross Seven Classical Memory Work
- Classical Conversations Memory Work
- Available in the App Store
Both programs use music, visuals, and movement to help kids memorize math facts, concepts, and formulas.
Math strategy number 12 is to use memory work.
13. Multisensory Multiplication Tables
Times Tales is another excellent resource that uses a multisensory approach to help kids memorize math facts. It uses a multitude of strategies to teach math.
- cartoons
- narrative storytelling
- mnemonics and
- lots of repetition
Because of these tools, kids are easily engaged and equipped to memorize math facts.
Math strategy number 13 is to try Times Tales!
14. Math Strategy for Word Problems
Kids often struggle with math word problems and need extra support to move forward.
Let’s look at an example.
Example Word Problem:
Sarah has 5 dozen cookies. She wants to share them evenly with her church small group of 8 friends.
How many cookies does each friend receive?
- Read the problem aloud TO your child
- This is NOT cheating.
- Remember, the objective is to mathematically process word problems.
- The objective is not reading aloud or decoding words. (That’s for reading time.)
- Work through each piece of information together.
- Pause after each phrase and discuss.
- For example, ask,
- “What does it mean that ‘Sarah has 5 dozen cookies?’
- Review the term DOZEN
- Ask, “How do we find out how many 5 dozen is?”
- If your child can’t answer, draw an image of 5 squares with 12 dots.
- Then move to the multiplication step, etc…
- Think, “Baby steps.”
Don’t Look at the Clock
Will this take a long time? Yes!
Will you get every math problem on the assignment completed? No.
However, 5 problems done step by step with growing mastery is a win.
By doing this, you’ll also have a better understanding of where there may be a disconnect in your student’s math skills.
The trouble with word problems is often an indication of reading comprehension, and auditory or language processing issues.
Math strategy number 14 is to work through word problems aloud with your child.
15. Use Reference Sheets
Offer your math student reference sheets. So many kids are visual learners and math reference sheets are perfect visual tools.
For example, if your child can’t remember the steps in a math formula, create a reference sheet outlining the proper steps.
Allow your child to use visual supports until the steps are automatic.
Above you’ll see a simple chicken scratch cheat sheet that I created on the fly for my middle daughter. I walked through multiple problems with her. After that, I color-coded each step so she could use it when working on her own.
Math strategy number 15 is to use reference sheets!
16. Use Math Videos
When the days are tough, and everything seems to be falling apart. Don’t panic.
Instead, try taking the pressure off you and your child by using one of my go-to math strategies. Use math videos.
There are many highly engaging math video series available to help you supplement your child’s math education.
If your child is younger, they can learn basic addition and subtraction in the Leap Frog series.
On the other hand, if you’re deep into algebra with your teen, try Mathantics.
Using educational math videos is math strategy number 16.
17. Try an Online Curriculum
If you’re struggling to teach your child math, why not try an online homeschool math curriculum?
Two online programs to try are:
It can be helpful to have another teacher present the concepts to both you and your child. Then you can work through the problems together.
On the other hand, your child may be able to handle an online math curriculum on their own. That’s a win as well!
Math strategy number 17 is to try an online homeschool math curriculum.
18. Less is More
Traditional school settings are not academically efficient. By default, they include many non-academic time-suckers to function.
Think about:
- Recess,
- Lining up,
- Taking roll,
- Packing up backpacks to go home, etc…
I mention this to put things in perspective. That is to say, long drawn-out lessons are NOT necessary for effective learning.
Limit the duration of your math lessons. Short lessons are effective.
Scatter Small Chunks of Math Throughout the Day
For example,
- 5 minutes of focused math scattered throughout the day for a younger child
- 15-minute chunks of time for an older child
Use your best judgment based on what you know of your child. In the end, stress-free learning is the goal always.
When stress is down, areas of the brain responsible for receiving and processing information are open for business.
Math strategy number 18, “Less is more. Limit the time of your lessons.”
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19. Limit the Number of Problems
One of the best math strategies is to limit the number of problems for your child.
When your child is struggling with math, whether they have dyscalculia, ADHD, or not, cut out the excess.
It doesn’t matter what the curriculum says.
You’re in charge of the curriculum. This is why you’re homeschooling.
- If the curriculum has 20 problems on a page, scratch off the bottom half and only do 10.
- If your child is having an anxious meltdown, start with one problem on a separate sheet of paper.
Start somewhere and slowly work up from there.
Math strategy number 19 is to limit the number of math problems.
20. One Problem on a White Background
This next math strategy is essential for any struggling math student.
Kids with learning challenges such as dyscalculia, dyslexia, and ADHD often have visual discrimination issues.
This means that visual clutter must be limited.
When working on a harder math concept, always remove barriers. In this case, choose one math problem from your student’s worksheet and write it on a small whiteboard.
Write the math problem in LARGE text so that the brain doesn’t have to spend any energy focusing on the details of the problem.
This makes a world of difference. Anxiety is reduced, and learning is more likely to take place.
Math strategy number 20 is to write one math problem on a whiteboard in large text.
Learn more about the value of a clutter-free design for ADHD brains.
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21. Read Fun Math Stories
One of my favorite math strategies is this. Switch it up by reading math storybooks to or with your student.
When you feel defeated about your child’s math struggles, remind yourself of this:
Homeschooling allows you to flip the educational model to serve the needs of your child.
For example, check out the Sir Cumference Series.
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Another idea is to pair the drudgery of math with your child’s interest in Minecraft. Check out these amazing Minecraft Math books.
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Math strategy number 21 says to switch it up by reading math storybooks to or with your student.
Recap: 21 Math Strategies
Finally, Friend, let me encourage you. In the end, you’re in charge. Trust that you’ve been chosen to parent your child for a reason.
You can do this. So, with this in mind, take hold of your child’s hand, and learn together. Hope these math strategies have been helpful. Now it’s your turn.
Did I miss any of your favorite math teaching strategies? Please comment below and share! I respond to every comment and look forward to chatting with you.
About the Author:
Lindsay is a trauma-informed educator with a Master’s Degree in Teaching. Her mission is to support moms to equip neurodivergent kids (ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, Anxiety) to thrive as exactly who they’ve been created to be. Wait until you hear the story that led to it all…
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This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a nominal fee from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support. See my disclosure policy for more info.
Great tips!
Thank you!
Thanks so much! Hope they help! 🙂
Thanks for the details! Great and helpful!
Lindsey, these are amazing tips!! Thank you for the thought and detail you put into this. As a former math teacher, I agree with each one!
You are the best, Sara! Thank you for your encouragement on these math teaching tips! Every homeschool momma needs a full toolbox of teaching strategies! And I know you’re a wealth of knowledge! Thank you!
Wow what a great post. I might have to read it over again to really get everything out of it.
You’re so sweet Kathleen! I do appreciate that. I’d be honored if you’d hang on to this post about math teaching strategies for homeschool moms. Thanks for that encouragement! 🙂
We use CTCMath as the main math curriculum for our son but whenever he struggles with a concept, I start to break out some of the ideas you shared here. We have one of the Minecraft books (that he loves) as well as access to a variety of pencil and paper worksheets we can use. And then he gets to use his younger sister’s math manipulatives at time to help too.
Kristen, You’re a genius homeschool mom! Thank you for your input on math teaching strategies for homeschool moms! Thank you! Thank you! 🙂