My Tips
Create a culture in your home that values education.
Learning takes work, and like adults, children must work to learn.
The parents’ work is to help their children. Helping you is my work, and I am glad to do it.
Show your child you are ready to help, or that if you cannot help right away, there are places you can look it up or figure it out (even if you’ve forgotten some things from your school days or some things have changed, which is often the case). Children believe their parents.
If your child is hesitant about going to school the next school day, reassure your child that things will improve.
If you are a working parent, try making arrangements to be home when your child returns from school to avoid ‘play time’ before the child’s math lesson and any other work they may have been assigned has been completed. (Necessities are excluded.)
Record your child’s favourite TV programs or other distractions for after all the school work has been completed. (Giving your child ‘play time’ first can lead to arguments, and parents usually lose.)
In the evening, ask your child an easy ABC Math question that you are sure they can answer correctly. This tip builds retention and confidence.
Whether or not your child is assigned homework, do one ABC Math practice drill (or test) every day to master addition and subtraction.
Mastering addition and subtraction is the first step to all other math your child will ever learn. It will support all the other math your child will face.