It's that time of year! Your high school student is getting ready to return to school, a new year of meeting new friends, participating in clubs and other extracurricular activities, and taking a set of new classes - including math.
If you're like most parents, you might feel a bit intimidated, wondering this year how you can help your math student be successful. The math class your student is taking may be well beyond your capabilities and you feel helpless! You might be thinking "I struggled with algebra and don't remember most of that - how can I help them in Geometry, Algebra II, Precalculus, or AP Stats or AP Calculus?"
But the good news is there is plenty you can do, regardless of your own capabilities in the subject matter! Here are four things EVERY parent can do this school year to help their high school math student.
Meet Your Student's Math Teacher
Going to your school's Open House should be a priority so you can meet the teachers of your student's classes that may be the most challenging. Be sure to introduce yourself to the teacher and let the teacher know you are committed to helping your student be successful in math this year. By the end of the Open House you should know or have:
Teacher's email address and website if they are using one to deliver content;
The online learning tools or websites your student will be using;
Days/times teacher will be available to assist before or after school.
A copy of the teacher's course syllabus, or know where to access it online.
As a teacher, I love to meet my parents at Open House - sometimes the students come with their parents and this helps me put a name and face to the parents and match it to the student! Consider taking your student to Open House!
Learn and Use the Technology
While you may not know the course content of your student's math class, you CAN know the technology that will be used by your student. Most math classes utilize a website for practice problems or homework. These could include MathXL, DeltaMath, Khan Academy, and many others. Require your student to share their login and password with you so that you can monitor progress and you know when assignments are posted to hold your student accountable. Sit with your student and be involved as they are learning how to maneuver the website. Often times the assignments are not just a series of questions to be answered - their real benefit to your student is providing learning resources - links to a textbook, videos, or step-by-step examples as your student is working problems. Be curious - learn how the platform works so you can help your student use the site.
Weekly Grade Checks
Check your student's grade at least weekly on your district's website. Look for any zeros on homeworks, upcoming tests and quizzes, and make sure you ask questions of your student about assignments. Let them know you are keeping tabs, this can be a great motivator!
If you have any concerns about your student's progress from the grades or missed assignments, don't hesitate to email your student's teacher. I teach juniors and seniors and the percentage of my parents that I hear from is less than 10% - so don't think you're being an annoyance to email the teacher! We are interested in your student's success and we appreciate curious parents!
Use Teacher Before/After School Assistance
If you and your student expect his/her math class to be challenging, one approach to utilizing teacher help is have your student establish a routine early in the school year to visit the teacher on a regular basis. Perhaps one day a week your student can plan to go to one help session on a specified day of the week. At this session your student can work on homework problems and the teacher will be there and available if they need assistance. I have students who do this - they just plan to do their homework during my assistance hours before and after school so I'm there and available to give them extra instruction should they need it. If they continue to struggle, increase the days from one to two, and monitor the progress!
Some students are reluctant to get help; maybe they perceive their teacher as intimidating, or they don't want to be seen by other students getting help, or any number of reasons. So if you are going to require your student to seek help, email the teacher to let them know what days/times to expect them, and ask the teacher to email you if they don't show up!
Hopefully these tips will help you help your math student this year, regardless of your own competency in the subject matter! Your student's success in high school and college and in their career will depend on them being an independent learner, and these tips will help you help him/her develop the habits of a successful independent learner!