Difficulty with Math

Children who have difficulty with math may have problems with various part of it.

Basic Math Building Blocks

Math Facts: The learning and recalling of math facts is the basis for math concepts. The basic math skills are adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing. Children must memorize these facts to be able to do them quickly.
Number Sense: A number sense is knowing numbers and symbols. Number meaning is knowing that "7" is seven times. Symbol meaning is knowing that "+" means to add.
Pattern awareness: Pattern awareness is knowing basic rules. For example, multiplying a number by zero is zero. Multiplying by 1 will yield the original number.

Helpful hints:

Show your child tricks for memorizing tables. "I don't know 7 x 6 but I do know that 7 x 5 = 35, so one more 7 makes 42."
Help your child know the properties of adding and multiplying. These are called "commutative properties"

For example, when numbers are added you get the same thing in any order (3+4 = 4+3).
For example, when numbers are multiplied you get the same thing in any order (3x7 = 7x3).

For example, to do 3x2, place 3 pieces of paper on the floor and put 2 pencils on each piece of paper. Count the pencils to understand that 3 groups of two is six.
Then, try it with pictures. For example, you can do 3x2 by making marks next to the numbers.

Math Procedures

Applying rules and procedures: Children must know what rules are used at different times.

Helpful Hints:

Teach your child to circle the operator sign ( + or - or x or /) so they recognize it easily.
Have your child practice saying rules without doing the problem. For example, given the problem '4 + 0', your child will respond 'add'. Have your child talk through the rules without doing the problems first.
Teach your child to break multi-step problems into smaller parts.
Allow checking work with a calculator.

Memory: Children need to memorize all the math facts. This forms the basis for harder math.

Helpful Hints:

Children can use flashcards to help them memorize math facts. After they are memorized, they can use the flashcards to help with their speed.
Make math fact practice fun. Use a computer game.

Math Concepts

Relevance and vocabulary of math: Some terms used are never used in daily life. (for example, trapezoid and cosine).

Helpful hints:

Help your child to explore number concepts concretely by adding the legs of a chair or a table.
Use math during the day. For example, compare heights among friends. Use math in stores with sales or tax. Discuss math when cutting pizza.
Children may like sports statistics which involves math.

Math Problem Solving

Ability to use mental imagery: Children need to be able to make pictures in their head.

Helpful hints:

Have your child draw pictures to represent what is going on in a word problem.
Have your child make up stories from number sentences. For example, say "8 minus 2". Let them make up a story about eight kids on a playground and two kids having to leave.
Have your child talk through the problem before actually doing the calculations.
Write out all the steps needed to solve a problem before doing the calculations.
Review language that is used in place of operations ('how many' or 'total' is '+').