While Math is one of the most important subjects, it’s also often the most dreaded. As a parent, understanding why your child is struggling with Math is imperative. Are they having trouble grasping critical concepts? Or are they struggling to solve more complex problems? Are they having a difficult time retaining important formulas and equations?
In most cases, children struggle with Math because they don’t have a strong foundation. This foundation must be developed from an early age. Moreover, it must be consistently and carefully strengthened as children progress from introductory to advanced academic stages.
In this blog, we’ll offer more insight. If your child has been underperforming in Math recently, this blog will help you understand a) why this is happening, b) what you can do about it, and c) how you can help your child maintain consistently good performance in Math in the long run.
Consistency is extremely important here. If your child’s performance improves for a few months but returns to the starting point, their grades will not improve. Temporary improvement isn’t the goal, continued improvement is. Let’s start by understanding the underlying reasons behind your child’s unsatisfactory performance in Math.
1. Underqualified Teachers
The right teaching support can go a long way in helping students excel in Math. Remember the foundation we mentioned earlier? Experienced, qualified, and committed teachers help build a strong, secure foundation that helps students develop a genuine interest in Math.
Students often think the subject is very difficult. This isn’t true. In reality, they lack a well-structured foundation. As a result, they have trouble grasping simple concepts, which makes them think that they’re studying a rather complex subject.
At Cambridge Home School Online, we have over 20 years of experience in providing a quality British online education to students across the globe, including the UK, Europe (including Western Russia), Central Asia, South Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
Our Expertise
Over the past 20 years, our MA/MSc/PhD qualified subject specialist teachers have delivered thousands of Math lessons. By equipping our institution with an esteemed faculty, we ensure that our students receive the foundational academic support they need to enjoy Math.
We teach Math across four homeschooling programs: Primary Prep/Key Stage 2 (ages 7 to 10), Lower School/Key Stage 3 (ages 11 to 13), Upper School/IGCSEs (ages 14 to 16), and Sixth Form/AS & A-Levels (ages 17 to 19).
In the first two stages, we have a stronger focus on making the lessons as fun as possible. During these stages, children grasp the basics of Mathematics. They grapple with new concepts, rules, equations, and formulas. Many components from their syllabus are completely new to them.
Our teachers start by making the classes enjoyable for every student. We use advanced audio-visual technology to make the lessons more compelling and stimulating. Additionally, our teachers plan fun Math-related activities, games, and presentations to help students remain engrossed in their lessons.
By presenting knowledge in a fun manner, our teachers ensure that students absorb and retain a high percentage of the lesson. This helps us build the strong foundation we talked about earlier.
For older students, we use a more rigorous approach. The IGCSE and A Level stages carry immense weight. Students must excel in their studies and secure top grades. The concepts are more advanced. As a result, the teaching approach also needs to be more rigorous.
Our teachers use an independent curriculum for Math. This helps us cover more educational breadth and depth. We help students develop mastery in the subject. Not only do they perform exceptionally well in class, but they also secure top grades.
2.Little to No Revision
While excellent teaching support is extremely important for success in a subject like Math, it’s not enough. Students must also revise their lessons regularly. No matter how qualified their teachers may be, students will fail to achieve their full potential if they don’t follow a consistent revision schedule.
If your child has been underperforming in Math lately, take a closer look at their routine. Are they allocating enough time to homework and revision, particularly for Math? It’s natural for students to develop a stronger interest in certain subjects. If your child has an affinity for English, Science, History, or any other subject, that’s excellent! It shows that they have a deeper interest in a subject, one they could possibly pursue in college. However, this doesn’t mean that your child solely focuses on this subject.
If your child loves to read and write, they shouldn’t just write short stories all day. They should also focus on the rest of their subjects. Dig deeper. Determine whether your child is distributing their time across each subject equally. This is imperative. If they’re giving more time to other subjects, make sure you intervene and help them establish a better balance.
It’s also possible that they’re not spending much time on homework and revision at all. In this case, you’ll have to speak with your child and help them set a better schedule. For younger children, parents should take the reins. Create and implement a well-structured schedule for your child.
Initiate A Discussion With Your Child
If your child is preparing for their IGCSE or A Level examinations, have a friendly conversation with them. Encourage them to spend more time revising Math. Emphasise the importance of performing well during their respective academic stage (IGCSEs or A Levels). Ask them if there are any personal or social issues that are preventing them from focusing on their studies.
In many cases, burnout, stress, anxiety, peer pressure, and self-doubt can prevent students from taking a healthy interest in their studies. At this stage, parental intervention becomes necessary. You may have to speak with your child’s teachers and school counsellors.
At CHS Online, we believe that mental health is extremely important. We provide one-on-one success coaching and pastoral support to every student. This helps us ensure that our students are on track. It also helps us address any problem that our students may be facing. Once these obstacles are removed, students feel like a burden has been removed from their shoulders. Their performance normalises.
3.The Wrong Institution
If your child is underperforming in Math, take a closer look at their institution. Are they attending conventional school? Does their school maintain a low student-teacher ratio? Do their teachers specialise in Mathematics? Does the institution use an independent curriculum?
Asking these questions is imperative. You’ll understand whether your child is enrolled in the right school. You’ll also understand whether you’ve selected the right schooling model for your child.
At Cambridge Home School Online, we’re considered one of the best online primary schools across the globe. By focusing on academic success, personal growth, and social development, we help students become well-rounded performers who excel in different facets of their life.
Our students secure top grades in their selected subjects (including Math), play sports, socialise with their friends, develop new skills, explore new hobbies and interests, and travel with their family.
By maintaining a healthy school-life balance, we help our students stay on track. If you’re interested in switching from conventional to online learning, take a closer look at our homeschooling process. We also provide A Levels Math home study, which is tricky to find at most online schools.
About the Author
The author is an education specialist at Cambridge Home School Online. As an esteemed online school, the institution is recognised for its prestigious faculty, focus on student mental health, and seamless track record. Their students secure top grades and attend some of the most esteemed universities across the globe.
