5 Math Tutoring Tips for Parents

1. Counting
The most basic skills in mathematics are counting and grouping (“seeing” numbers in groups). To develop counting skills, help children learn to count from any number, to any number, by any number. Do all counting forward and backward.

2. Fractions
As counting skills begin to develop, fractions can be introduced. Long before introducing words like numerator and denominator, teach children that half means “2 parts the same,” and have them use this knowledge to figure out things like:
• “How much is half of 6? …10? …20? …26? …30? …50? …100? …248? …4,628?”
• “How much is half of 3? …11? …15? …21? …49? …99? …175? …999? …2,001?

3. Problem Solving
Children become good problem solvers when they are asked to solve a broad range of problems early on, at home and at school. Start with easy questions; let the level of difficulty increase as the child’s ability grows.

4. Money
Preschool and kindergarten are appropriate times to begin this training. It is best that parents take care of these things at home, rather than have teachers spend valuable classroom time on them.
By the end of third grade, children should have learned the basic equivalents:
• 20 nickels = 10 dimes = 4 quarters = 2 half–dollars = 1 dollar
• 1 dime = 2 nickels
• 1 quarter = 5 nickels
• 1 half–dollar = 5 dimes = 10 nickels

5. Grouping
To expand children’s thinking processes and help them “see” groups, ask questions like:
• “7 and how much more make 10?” “70 and how much more make100?” “700 and how much more make 1,000?”
• “10 and how much more make 15?” “10 and how much more make 18?” “10 and how much more make 25?”
• “17 and how much more make 20?” “87 and how much more make 100?” “667 and how much more make 1,000?”

Special thanks to Joe Restivo for his contribution on this article.