{"id":25608,"date":"2014-09-15T09:00:58","date_gmt":"2014-09-15T13:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/homeschool\/?p=25608"},"modified":"2019-09-09T10:36:57","modified_gmt":"2019-09-09T14:36:57","slug":"solving-homeschool-math-challenge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/homeschool\/solving-homeschool-math-challenge\/","title":{"rendered":"Solving the Homeschool Math Challenge"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>By contributing writer\u00a0<a target = \"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/WvA0b8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Colleen<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>When you <a target = \"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.raisinglifelonglearners.com\/adapting-homeschool-for-wiggly-boys-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">have kids that just won\u2019t stop moving<\/a> in your homeschool, subjects like math can be a huge challenge. Even if a wiggly child is good at math, that subject presents unique challenges that are hard to overcome.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-25668 size-full\" title=\"Solving the Homeschool Math Challenge at The Happy Housewife\" src=\"\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/homeschool\/files\/2014\/09\/Solving_Homeschool_Math_Challenge.jpg\" alt=\"Solving the Homeschool Math Challenge at The Happy Housewife\" width=\"535\" height=\"536\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/homeschool\/files\/2014\/09\/Solving_Homeschool_Math_Challenge.jpg 535w, https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/homeschool\/files\/2014\/09\/Solving_Homeschool_Math_Challenge-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/homeschool\/files\/2014\/09\/Solving_Homeschool_Math_Challenge-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/homeschool\/files\/2014\/09\/Solving_Homeschool_Math_Challenge-400x400.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 535px) 100vw, 535px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>photo credit: <a target = \"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/tracy_the_astonishing\/3398883036\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">tracy the astonishing<\/a> via <a target = \"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/photopin.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">photopin<\/a> <a target = \"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">cc<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Math is:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Sequential<\/strong> \u2013 Each lesson builds upon the last. A child (even a bright child) needs to do it mostly in order to\u00a0lay a good foundation for higher levels of math. If he skips around too much, he\u2019ll struggle in math later.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Repetitive<\/strong> \u2013 Math takes practice. While not all children need as many repetitions as others in order to master concepts, each kiddo needs some practice to become a strong mathematician.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Paper and Pencil<\/strong> \u2013 Because math is a skill to be mastered, most kids need to actually do the problems on paper in order to cement them in their minds. Active kids aren\u2019t always the biggest fans of this type of work.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Overwhelming<\/strong> \u2013 Let\u2019s face it, math can be overwhelming to kids. There is always something new to learn, and it seems like it never ends.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>All of these issues add up to fights in many homeschools. I know that my son, <a target = \"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.raisinglifelonglearners.com\/my-child-is-gifted\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">who is very gifted<\/a>,\u00a0struggles whenever it\u2019s time to pull out the math book. He doesn\u2019t struggle because math is challenging. He struggles because <a target = \"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.raisinglifelonglearners.com\/teach-math-to-gifted-kids\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">the nature of math is tough<\/a> for him. But math has to happen. So what should we do as homeschool parents?<\/p>\n<h3>Change It Up<\/h3>\n<p>If a curriculum isn\u2019t working, there is no law that says you have to stick to it. Try something different. There are computer-based programs, textbooks with lots of repetition, and workbooks that favor more of a spiral approach (circling topics back around and around until a child gets it).<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-25620\" title=\"Solving the Homeschool Math Challenge at The Happy Housewife\" src=\"\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/homeschool\/files\/2014\/08\/math1.jpg\" alt=\"Solving the Homeschool Math Challenge at The Happy Housewife\" width=\"550\" height=\"379\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/homeschool\/files\/2014\/08\/math1.jpg 600w, https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/homeschool\/files\/2014\/08\/math1-300x207.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Try a few different things to see which method works with your child\u2019s learning style and personality. Borrow a few different programs from local homeschool friends, if possible, to try different things out. Remember, your only limit is yourself.<\/p>\n<p>Homeschooling is a chance to see what works best and go with it. There is no one size fits all method of learning.<\/p>\n<h3>Get Your Kids Moving<\/h3>\n<p>If your kids don\u2019t like to sit still, try to get them moving. In desperation one year, I took scissors to my son\u2019s workbook pages and cut apart his math workbook. I spread the small chunks of paper throughout the house, told him how many pieces he had to find, and let him go on a math scavenger hunt to do his work.<\/p>\n<p>I didn\u2019t modify the work in any way. I still had him do all the problems on the page, but he didn\u2019t feel as overwhelmed because those assignments were spread all over the house in small bite-sized pieces, and he was able to move between each segment. It was an adventure that he loved, and the complaining ceased.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-25621\" title=\"Solving the Homeschool Math Challenge at The Happy Housewife\" src=\"\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/homeschool\/files\/2014\/08\/math2.jpg\" alt=\"Solving the Homeschool Math Challenge at The Happy Housewife\" width=\"550\" height=\"311\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/homeschool\/files\/2014\/08\/math2.jpg 600w, https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/homeschool\/files\/2014\/08\/math2-300x170.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>Modify the Curriculum<\/h3>\n<p>There is no rule that says your child must do every problem in a lesson. If there are a lot of repeated concepts and your child has clearly demonstrated to you that he knows that skill well, don\u2019t make him practice any more. Allow him to move on.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s easy to become a slave to the curriculum, but really, it doesn&#8217;t do your child (or you) any good. Make the program work for you; don\u2019t become a slave to it. If your child knows what he or she is doing, then let him be done with that concept. Otherwise homeschooling isn&#8217;t any different than having him be in school.<\/p>\n<h3>Relax<\/h3>\n<p>Above all, relax. It\u2019s math. Yes, it\u2019s important that your child knows how to manage his money, count, and calculate, but it\u2019s more important that your child is confident, well-adjusted, and sure of himself. If the math you\u2019re doing isn\u2019t working, and it\u2019s weighing you all down, step back, reevaluate, and try something else.<\/p>\n<p>Above all, enjoy having your kids home with you, and work together to figure out a plan that works. It\u2019s your turn. What simple ideas do you have for helping your kids through their math issues?<\/p>\n<h3>You might also like&#8230;<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/homeschool\/learn-math-fast-curriculum-review\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Learn Math Fast Curriculum Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/homeschool\/teaching-textbooks-review\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Teaching Textbooks Curriculum Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/homeschool\/circus-themed-math-worksheets-free-printables\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Circus Themed Math Worksheets<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By contributing writer\u00a0Colleen When you have kids that just won\u2019t stop moving in your homeschool, subjects like math can be a huge challenge. Even if a wiggly child is good at math, that subject presents unique challenges that are hard to overcome. photo credit: tracy the astonishing via photopin cc Math is: Sequential \u2013 Each [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":25668,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[2817],"class_list":{"0":"post-25608","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-helps","8":"tag-math","9":"entry"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v15.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Solving the Homeschool Math Challenge - The Happy Housewife\u2122 :: Home Schooling<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/homeschool\/solving-homeschool-math-challenge\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Solving the Homeschool Math Challenge - The Happy Housewife\u2122 :: Home Schooling\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By contributing writer\u00a0Colleen When you have kids that just won\u2019t stop moving in your homeschool, subjects like math can be a huge challenge. 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