Has your child’s teacher been raising concerns about their maths performance? You’re not alone – lots of parents find themselves in this situation. Maybe your kid has been struggling with numbers for a while, or they’re finding it tough to keep up with the rest of the class. It’s also common for students to feel overwhelmed when they move up to KS3 level maths, especially if they’ve been getting low grades.
But don’t worry! There’s no need to panic. There are plenty of ways you can support your child and help them improve their maths skills. The good news is, with the right approach, most kids can get better at maths – even if they think they’re “just not a maths person.”
So, what can you do to help? Well, there are quite a few strategies you can try. Maybe you could set aside some time each day for maths practice, or look into fun maths games that make learning feel less like a chore. You might also consider getting some extra help, like a tutor or online maths resources.
So, let’s get started on this maths adventure together!
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Help Them with Homework
Are you pretty comfortable with numbers and equations? If you’re feeling confident in your maths skills, you might be in a great position to help your child with their schoolwork. Having a parent who can guide them through tricky problems can be a real boost for your kid’s confidence.
If you decide to take on the role of maths mentor, try to set aside some regular time for homework help. It doesn’t have to be hours every day – even just 20 minutes a few times a week can make a big difference. Your child will feel supported knowing they have a go-to person for when they get stuck on a problem.
But here’s the thing – teaching maths isn’t always a walk in the park, even if you’re good at it yourself. It’s important to keep your cool and be patient. Remember, what seems obvious to you might be brand new to your child. Take your time explaining things, and don’t be afraid to use examples or draw pictures to help get the point across.
If you find yourself getting frustrated (hey, it happens to all of us!), it’s okay to take a break. The goal is to help your child feel more confident about maths, not more stressed. And if you come across a problem that’s stumping both of you, it’s totally fine to admit you’re not sure and suggest looking it up together.
Hire a Tutor
If you feel like you do not have enough knowledge of maths to teach your child, do not worry. A lot of parents are in the same boat. In fact, maths has become more difficult over the years, which means that you can feel out of touch with the current KS3 curriculum. Your child is still able to get additional help after school. Instead, you can hire a tutor.
Thankfully, it is now a lot easier to find tutors online. You can select a professional that is able to teach at the KS3 level, whether this is in person at your house or via the internet. You can find maths KS3 tutors on the link. You can read their profile and see if they have the qualifications you like, as well as the experience for your child. What’s more, you will see their prices and availability.
Find Free Tests Online
If you go on the internet, there are a lot of free resources out there that can help your child. In particular, you will find resources for KS3 maths. Some of these websites will make you pay for papers or worksheets. But, there are some out there that are free. So, take a look around and see if there are any free tests online. This is going to assist your child with their study.
Online tests can be a way to affirm whether your child understands certain topics. It can boost their confidence when they get the answers right. Alternatively, it can let your child know what they should concentrate and work on further.
Invite a Friend to Study
Hopefully, your child has friends in their maths class. This can be a good starting point and something that can help them improve their own knowledge. You can invite a friend over to study and this might provide the support that helps your child learn. A friend can describe things differently from a teacher and this might be something that can clarify tricky topics.
Of course, children might procrastinate and you may want to sit in on study sessions. This way, they can concentrate on the work and help each other with maths. You may also want to check with your child that they are comfortable with this arrangement. The last thing you want is for them to feel embarrassed about struggling with maths.
Buy Some Books
Thankfully, there are a lot of resources you can use to help your child with KS3 maths. For example, there are books available that can help to explain difficult topics in new ways. This might help your child think about them from a different angle and piece things together. Since they are going to read the textbooks on their own, this can feel like independent learning and give them some freedom.
There are also workbooks available for maths. This means that your child can answer questions and you will be able to find out if they have the right answers. Maths can be a situation where practice makes perfect. So, you can also choose to read through the book with your child and then they can answer the workbook to see if they have learned anything new.
