Do you have tips for math practice at home?

Do you have any tips for parents to help our kids keep up on math facts over the summer? My son really struggled for the first part of this year, second grade. Now he is going to third next year, and I know we need to practice math. I read to him and took him to the library and stuff, but I forgot about math. What can we do to keep them sharp? Too bad there isn’t a math library.

First, there is a math library. It is the same library you go to in order to find fun story books. There are a ton of math related stories and fun books you can choose alongside those stories. Go to the computer catalogue and type in “Math” in the subject keyword space and look at all the options you and your child could fine.

Beyond the library, make math a simple part of your day. If it does not fit naturally into your summer routine, you and your child will not do it. One tip would be to wait every time you are going to start the car and make your child answer a certain set of math problems. Nothing too complex, but if you do it every time you are about to go somewhere he will essentially have the “key” to helping you start the engine.

It should be fun, and it will allow you to help him with the areas he might not remember as readily. When he struggles, help him with the answers and try to stop and memorize 3-5 problems that day repeating those the next day and building.

If you do not plan to drive anywhere with these gas prices, have him do these types of practice problems before meals, or before being allowed to go outside or in the pool. Tell him his math skills are his keys to his favorite activities.