Homeschool Math For Children

If your child is struggling with math, a science and math tutor can help them understand the subject better. They can also teach them how to study effectively and prepare for tests.

The Benefits of a Science and Math Tutor

A science and math tutor can also assist students in preparing for the test that will determine whether they can enroll in college. Moreover, they can provide test-taking tips to help boost their confidence on exam day.

Individualized attention

One of the most common classes students struggle with is math. It consists of an ever-expanding list of formulas and functions for students to memorize, making it difficult to learn effectively without the help of a tutor.

In a one-on-one tutoring session, your child can receive individualized attention that is tailored to their needs and the learning style they are most comfortable with. This allows your child to learn in a way that is best for them, increasing their confidence and mastery of concepts.

Tutors also understand how to use the questioning metaphor in their teaching and can work with your child to develop their critical learning skills. They can encourage students to acquire the knowledge, not only through teaching but by demonstrating the learning process in general.

A science and math tutor provides individualized attention, which can improve a student’s performance in the subject and prepare them for future success in school. They can also help students develop effective study habits that will lead to improved grades and a greater appreciation for learning.

Mentorship

Mentorship is an important part of education, and a science and math tutor can be an excellent mentor. They can provide individualized attention to students and explain complex concepts and processes at their level of understanding, helping them build confidence in the subject area.

Tutoring also gives students the opportunity to develop important life skills, such as study habits, organizational skills, and time management techniques. These skills are often crucial to success in school and beyond, and a math and science tutor can help students develop them.

A good mentor takes the time to get to know their mentees and communicates with them regularly. They are clear about the help they hope to provide, how often they’d like to meet and their preferred methods of communication.

Research suggests that mentoring influences the choices that individuals make about careers and their broader responsibilities as professionals. It helps to socialize students into a disciplinary culture and provides them with the professional skills they need to succeed. It also enables mentees to gain insight into career paths that may be more suitable for them than those they were previously considering.

Life skills

The skills and knowledge students learn in their science and math classes will help them throughout their life. These lessons can include communication, empathy, money management and more.

Tutors who are knowledgeable about the subject matter will be able to make connections with their students that can spark a love of learning. They will also be able to explain concepts like logarithms in terms that everyone can understand.

A science and math tutor can also provide tips for improving study habits. This can help students develop effective research and writing skills, which can improve their grades.

A science and math tutor can also provide test-taking tips that can help students increase their confidence and reduce anxiety about taking exams. They can also explain the importance of keeping an organized notebook, which can help students find all the information they need to study for their tests. This can make studying easier and less stressful, which can be especially important for high school students.

Test prep

A science and math tutor can help students with standardized test prep. They will teach students study skills and strategies that will help them perform their best on tests.

Standardized tests are a huge part of high school and college life. They are a significant source of anxiety for many students and can have a big impact on their future.

While cramming the night before a test may seem like an effective way to improve a student’s score, studies show that this is not always the case. Rather, it’s best to spend more time upfront studying for each test and less time cramming the night before.

A skilled and experienced science and math tutor can provide excellent test prep for any standardized exam, including the SAT and ACT. They can also help students overcome the stress and anxiety that these tests bring, while helping them achieve their academic goals.

The 8th grade is a crucial time to learn math. It is the year you need to master the basics to enter high school with a strong foundation for advanced courses.

How to Learn 8th Grade Math

The curriculum focuses on number sense and operations, algebra, geometry and spatial sense, measurement and data analysis and probability. This is all critical to understanding the big kahuna of math in high school: Calculus.

Number System

In 8th grade math, students learn about number systems. They also learn to use linear functions to compare and analyze relationships between different quantities.

A number system is a way of representing numbers mathematically using symbols like digits, numbers, and irrational numbers. There are mainly four types of number systems: base-10 (decimal), base-2 (binary), base-8 (octal), and base-16 (hexadecimal).

The most common number system is the decimal system, which counts by using 10 digits. It is also used in modern computers and can be expanded to a larger number by grouping the digits into groups, called bytes, or combinations of 8 bits.

Other number systems include positional base b numerals, which use a radix of b i.e. b basic symbols to generate the rest of the numerals. The radix is a natural number greater than 1 that is a positive number. The digits are then placed in positions along a line, which is the number system, to form numerical values.

Geometry

One of the most important concepts in eighth grade math is congruence and similarity. Students will learn how to use proofs to establish the relationships between two figures, and how to manipulate two- and three-dimensional shapes and angles.

Another way that students can apply their understanding of congruence and similarity is through sequences of transformations, such as translations and dilations. Asking students to explain how they would take a figure from one point to another is a good starting point for learning about transformations.

Work with transformations also enables students to develop viable arguments and critique others’ reasoning. This helps them prepare for high school geometry, where formal arguments about congruence and similarity will be required.

Functions

Math eighth grade students learn to describe the relationship between sets of numbers called inputs and a set of numbers called outputs using functions. They use this knowledge to create tables, equations, graphs and verbal descriptions of how quantities are related.

Functions are one of the most important topics that 8th graders will need to understand in order to master algebra. They will need to be able to identify and analyze a function’s rate of change, initial value and intervals of increase or decrease.

Probability

Probability is a branch of math that deals with the occurrence of a random event. It is expressed as a number between 0 and 1, with higher values signifying greater likelihood of the event occurring.

1. Explain how probability is a measure of uncertainty in a set (S) that contains a sequence of events or outcomes.

2. Understand that there are different types of probability: independent, dependent, complementary, and mutually exclusive.

3. Use the complementary rule to express probability: P(A’) = textP(A) or P(not A’)P(not A)P, left parenthesis, start text, n, o, t, space, end text, A, right parenthesis, is equal to 1 + P(A) – P(not A).

4. Explore the relationship between probability and statistics: Conclusion: Probability is a key concept in math that is used in many areas of science, engineering, and everyday life. It is often used to help predict the outcome of a test or experiment.

Kindergarten is a great time to start homeschooling your child. They’ll be excited about learning new things and you can enjoy short lessons that allow for frequent breaks.

Top 5 Kindergarten Math Homeschooling Programs

It’s also a great time to introduce math concepts like patterns and numbers. There are tons of math manipulatives that can help children grasp abstract concepts and make it easier to learn.

Horizons Kindergarten Math Set

Horizons Kindergarten Math Set is a colorful, engaging homeschool curriculum with spiral-based lessons that teach children essential math and other subjects like phonics, reading, health, and penmanship. It includes consumable lessons and hands-on activities, a teacher’s guide, and supplementary reader books that make it an excellent choice for parents who want a fun and effective way to educate their little ones.

Its spiral method introduces students to a new math topic and revisits it over time, periodically adding in new knowledge to reinforce learning. This keeps students engaged and prevents them from becoming bored, which is important for many students who require a lot of practice and review to develop strong math skills.

Horizons Math also takes a practical and procedural approach to teaching math, using a combination of dialogue, demonstration, hands-on activities and the colorful workbooks to help students grasp concepts quickly and effectively. While this methodology can be a turnoff for some students, it can help them develop strong math skills faster than a conceptual program might.

Earlybird Kindergarten Mathematics

Earlybird Kindergarten Mathematics is an activity-based program aligned with California’s common core standards. It features bright, colorful workbooks and optional activity books for solid progression of first readiness skills (K4) and then introductory arithmetic skills.

Like Singapore Math’s popular Primary Mathematics series, Earlybird Kindergarten Math teaches math concepts in a spiral-method that progresses from concrete to pictorial to abstract. Its Concrete>Pictorial>Abstract approach also encourages students to interact with concepts through hands-on tasks, meaningful activities and attractive illustrations rich in mathematical content.

Earlybird Kindergarten Mathematics consists of two textbooks, a workbook and a teacher’s guide. It can be used as a one- or two-year program for pre-K and kindergarten.

Math-U-See

Math-U-See is a mastery-oriented homeschool curriculum that uses manipulatives and video lessons to help students learn math concepts. It is a popular choice among homeschoolers, especially for kids who struggle in math or have math anxiety.

The program is organized into levels, not grades, so students can move at their own pace as they master concepts. This helps children overcome the tendency to get frustrated when working on concepts below their actual grade level.

This curriculum is organized by Greek letters, making it easy for parents to find the appropriate level for their child. Unlike other homeschooling programs, Math-U-See is not grade-specific so students can start at any level and work at their own pace.

The program is taught by educator Steve Demme, who teaches each lesson using a mixture of video, manipulatives and written explanations. His multisensory approach and friendly manner have made him a favorite of many homeschoolers.

Starfall Kindergarten Mathematics

Starfall is a free website that offers phonics-based learning through animated songs and reading activities. It also features math and language arts skills for preschool and kindergarten children.

The site focuses on phonemic awareness, systematic phonics, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension. It also emphasizes play and positive reinforcement to build confident learners.

It’s a great way to supplement in-class lessons and to help students build their literacy skills. It also works well with ELLs or students who have language delays.

The website is free, but it also has a membership program that provides access to more content. There are three levels of membership: Home, Teacher and Classroom.

If you’re homeschooling, you know that math can be a tricky subject to cover. With multiple children or a busy schedule, it can be hard to keep up with the lessons.

Best Homeschool Math Programs

When choosing a math program, you should consider your child’s learning style, the standards of the curriculum, and the price tag. We’ve rounded up 10 of the best homeschool math curricula for your family to consider.

Horizons Math

Horizons is a comprehensive, advanced math curriculum that integrates a strong Christian worldview into all of its lessons. It also uses a spiral learning approach to teaching math that involves introducing concepts quickly and frequent review.

This is a great way to build skills for future math tests, as well as help students master the fundamentals of math without becoming overwhelmed by lots of practice and repetition. Additionally, the program uses a variety of hands-on learning activities and supplemental worksheets to reinforce and improve student retention.

Horizons Math includes a Teacher’s Guide and two Student Workbooks. The teacher’s guide includes lesson plans and teaching suggestions, as well as answer keys for all of the student worksheets.

Singapore Math

Singapore Math (r) is an approach to mathematics that uses a progressive learning process to help students develop a strong sense of number. The program’s emphasis on conceptual learning compared to quantity taught helps students build a solid foundation in mathematics, resulting in consistently high marks on international math tests (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study).

Rather than teaching children to memorize by drilling concepts into their memory, the curriculum teaches kids how to mathematically think so they can rely on theory and logic. This approach to learning is unique to Singapore Math and is a great way to get kids thinking in mathematical ways.

Another ingenious strategy used by the Singapore Math program is bar modeling, or model drawing. This technique helps students visualize abstract mathematical quantities and their relationships so they can better understand how to solve word problems. This helps students apply their math skills in a variety of situations, which is important for problem-solving in algebra.

Miquon Math

Miquon Math is an educational program based on the belief that mathematical insight grows out of observation, investigation, and the discovery of patterns. The company’s six student workbooks, two for each grade level, teach children a variety of math skills and concepts through a hands-on approach.

The workbooks are designed to be uncluttered, simple, and visually plain. This format provides a distraction-free environment for students to focus on the task at hand.

It also features the use of Cuisenaire rods (wooden rods in 10 color-coded lengths), which offer a tactile element that helps children grasp and visualize math concepts. These rods can be purchased separately, or the complete program includes them as part of the package.

The company is dedicated to helping students learn math through the use of hands-on and active exploration, which is a hugely beneficial strategy for kinesthetic learners. For these reasons, Miquon is a favorite among homeschool moms who want to give their kids a head start in the world of mathematics.

Art of Problem Solving

Art of Problem Solving is a company that produces books, classes and other materials for outstanding math students. Founded in 2003 by Richard Rusczyk, the company is dedicated to helping students develop a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts and problem-solving methods rarely taught in school.

Their textbooks for middle and high school math are designed to be a comprehensive curriculum that provides instruction, practice problems, and hints. The curricula are usually over a couple hundred pages long and include several sections per topic.

Unlike many math texts, these are discovery based and are often quite challenging for students who may be used to more traditional formula-oriented learning. They are also very conceptually strong and will take a little time to get into.

Homeschoolers can benefit from a variety of online math curricula that can save time and money. These programs can also provide a more personalized learning experience for students with advanced digital teaching tools and more in-depth progress tracking.

A good online math curriculum blends conceptual and procedural approaches to math instruction. This blend can help students learn and retain information better, particularly if it includes reality-based examples. You can explore some of these math courses for kids.

Khan Academy

Khan Academy (KA) is a free homeschool math online curriculum that offers video lessons and practice exercises. It also offers mastery challenges to test students’ understanding.

The site is used by 18 million people worldwide, and it has been translated into 36 languages. It offers courses on a variety of subjects, including math, science, computing, arts and humanities, economics, reading and language arts, test prep, and life skills.

Aside from providing videos and practice, KA also provides support through its platform. However, it lacks the same structure as a traditional classroom setting and may not be ideal for some students.

BJU Press, for example, is a Christian-based homeschool curriculum that covers a variety of subjects with a traditional teaching approach and offers accreditation. It has a wide range of content and offers teacher’s guides and answer keys.

XtraMath

XtraMath is a Common Core-aligned, K-6 program that helps students master math facts. It’s designed to improve fluency in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division by using timed drill activities.

Upon initial login, XtraMath provides an assessment of student math knowledge and skill, then offers practice exercises to hone base skills. These can be simple flashcard-style games or race the teacher games that challenge students to answer questions as quickly as possible, with a host providing motivational support.

Parents can monitor students’ progress via individual and class progress monitoring reports, which are detailed and easy to read. Reports cover key math skills and use, as well as areas that may require remedial instruction.

For the best results, children should practice XtraMath as often as possible. It’s best to have a designated place for practice at home, so that your child can focus on it without distraction. Productive struggle is a normal part of learning, so be sure to encourage your child and praise their efforts.

Mangahigh

Mangahigh is a web-based maths and coding learning platform that uses adaptive math quizzes, unconventional games and inter-school maths competitions to engage students in their math lessons. Its AI algorithm and curriculum-aligned content support teachers in creating differentiated assignments that are tailored to their students’ abilities and learning speed.

The game-based methodology encourages students to work hard and earn medal points, based on their level of understanding. The platform also offers teachers a dashboard that shows the progress of all their students.

With this information, teachers can track student progress throughout the curriculum. This helps them identify gaps in their knowledge and plan the next steps in their teaching.

Students can also compete against other schools for prizes, boosting class morale and helping them to focus their efforts. The platform also has a number of games that challenge their logic and reasoning skills, allowing them to practice math facts while having fun.

YouTube

YouTube is a great way to bring your students’ learning to life, and there are plenty of educational videos on the site. However, it’s important to watch each video carefully and to ensure that the content aligns with your family’s beliefs and worldview. For instance, you can check out this math video lesson for kids as a starting point.

YouTube offers a feature called Safety mode that will filter search results and remove mature content. You can also opt to bar certain types of videos from your playlists, shows and movies sections.

A number of homeschool math YouTube channels are available, including Math Mammoth, which emphasizes conceptual understanding and number sense. These videos feature real math teachers who explain concepts step by step, and they incorporate songs, animations or favorite characters to add a little fun into the learning experience.

Another great YouTube channel for homeschooling is The Video Math Tutor, which offers a variety of math videos from preschool to Algebra. These short videos are a fun and easy way to learn, and they can even be used as a supplement for traditional classroom instruction.

The right math homeschool curriculum makes all the difference in your child’s math success. That’s why it’s important to choose one that fits your style of teaching and your student’s learning needs.

Top 5 Math Homeschool Curriculum

Ideally, your program will teach both conceptual and procedural approaches to math. Procedural curricula focus on teaching students a series of steps to solve problems (aka algorithms). Conceptual programs teach kids the whys behind mathematical operations, such as why we need to find common denominators when adding fractions or why we “borrow the 1” when subtracting.

Math-U-See

Math-U-See is one of the most popular homeschool math curriculums because it uses a mastery approach. It doesn’t organize lessons by grade level, but rather by topic, which makes it easier for kids to grasp each concept without having to be overwhelmed with too much material at once.

In addition to a 4-step method and helpful suggestions in the instruction manual, Math-U-See also comes with manipulatives, allowing children to practice and reinforce their learning with hands-on exercises. This includes colorful blocks, which are a great way to visualize abstract concepts and get a feel for how numbers look.

The blocks are made of durable plastic and last a long time, so parents don’t need to worry about having to purchase them again later on. For higher-level concepts, the company sells fraction overlays and Algebra/Decimal inserts to supplement the blocks.

The Art of Problem Solving

Art of Problem Solving is a series of rigorous math instruction textbooks and programs designed to help high-performing students gain a deeper understanding of math concepts. It was founded in 1993 by former USA Math Olympiad winner Richard Rusczyk.

The curriculum uses a more conceptual and constructivist approach to teaching mathematics. Instead of learning algorithms, students learn why the rules are true.

While this approach can be a bit dry and conceptual for some kids, it can also be extremely helpful to students who are not accustomed to learning the whys behind math and how to use their knowledge to solve new problems.

The textbooks feature a lot of word problems, as well as review and challenge problems that test students’ mastery of the material. These are often difficult to understand and may take some time for students to get used to, but they can be extremely useful for students who want a more challenging math homeschool curriculum.

Life of Fred

Life of Fred teaches math with a storybook-like approach that incorporates lots of humor and illustration. It also aims to make learning math as painless as possible and in a way that students will understand.

Life of Fred has a variety of books that span the elementary, middle and high school levels. It also extends well into college level math with books on Calculus, Statistics and Analysis.

The elementary series of Life of Fred texts includes ten books that are usually used in grades one through four. The intermediate series consists of three books that should be used in grades five through six.

The elementary series is fairly short and covers a lot of concepts at a lesson a day, making it an ideal spaced repetition program for parents and students. The intermediate series is a good fit for students who have already mastered addition and subtraction, fractions, decimals and percents, and are ready for a more comprehensive introduction to math.

Time4Learning

Time4Learning is an online homeschool curriculum that can be used as a core program or supplement. It offers lessons in four subjects – math, language arts, science and social studies – as well as art courses.

Time 4 Learning combines interactive video lessons, graded practice activities and quizzes that are correlated to state standards. It also includes printable worksheets to reinforce concepts.

The curriculum is student-led, which means students learn as fast or as slow as they want to. They can start the curriculum at any point during a year and finish it whenever they feel ready.

The homeschool program also has a variety of electives for middle school and high school. These include art, fitness and environmental science. It also includes Time4MathFacts, an online math facts practice program that allows students to master crucial math facts, such as addition, subtraction and multiplication.

If you are a homeschooler and are looking for a good online curriculum for math, you have come to the right place. We have rounded up some of the best programs for your student’s needs.

The best programs are conceptual, mastery-based and hands-on. These approaches help students understand the subject matter while also building their confidence.

RightStart Math

RightStart Math is a hands-on math curriculum that uses manipulatives and fun card games as a way to review and reinforce concepts. It also incorporates back-and-forth dialogue, helping students develop a deeper understanding of math concepts and how they relate to one another.

Its lesson guides are thick, spiral-bound books that contain more or less everything a parent needs to teach a given grade level. It’s an ideal program for parents who like teaching math and have the time to commit to a teacher-led learning environment. You can find more information on official education resources here.

The main difference between RightStart Math and other math curricula is its emphasis on using a specially designed abacus throughout Levels A through F. This tool is designed to help children visualize numerical quantities in groups of fives rather than counting them up by number.

It’s also known for its extensive use of card games, recommending that students play these a couple of times per week in addition to their regular math lessons. These games, which include variations of War, memory games, and other operations-based card games, provide a fun and engaging way for students to reinforce their math skills.

CTC Math

If you’re looking for a high-quality online math curriculum for your homeschool, CTC Math is a great choice. It offers a free trial, and is very affordable.

This curriculum is designed to make learning math easy for students of all ages. It includes lessons for K-6, Pre-Algebra, Geometry, Algebra, Algebra II, Trigonometry and Pre-Calculus.

Another great feature is the ability to create printable worksheets and question banks for each lesson. This allows parents to differentiate the level of difficulty based on their individual needs.

The program also makes it easy to track student progress with weekly summary reports sent directly to the parent’s inbox. This information helps parents track their student’s time spent, quiz and test scores, and assignment completion.

In addition to online tutorials and worksheets, CTCMath also offers in-program PDFs that can be printed and worked on offline. This is a huge plus for parents with younger children who may not be used to doing math on the computer.

ST Math Homeschool Games

ST Math Homeschool Games is a PreK-8 visual instructional program that leverages the brain’s innate spatial-temporal reasoning ability to solve mathematical problems. It provides more than 35,000 puzzles that align to all state standards and learning objectives that target key grade-level concepts and skills.

The program is best used as a supplement to classroom instruction and can work well with a variety of different curricula, both standards-aligned and on-grade in nature. The individualized visual software also allows schools to customize their ST Math implementation, tailoring what students play and how long they spend on the program.

The site subscription model allows districts and schools to purchase access to the program, with a starting annual price that varies by enrollment. The program also offers an option for families, allowing them to subscribe and access it at no cost. The program was made free on March 14, 2020, due to COVID-19 and resulting school closures, and will remain available through June 2022.

Math-U-See

Math-U-See is a manipulative-based program that uses video instruction and colorful blocks to teach kids how to do math. It is a popular choice for homeschoolers who are looking for a hands-on curriculum that emphasizes computation skills and conceptual understanding.

It also provides students with a lot of practice and drill, which is helpful for developing their math skills. But it may not offer the challenge some parents desire, especially for advanced math learners.

The program is ordered by Greek letters and does not follow traditional grade-level progressions, which can be a little confusing for some parents. Rather, it starts at a lower level and works up to a higher one without the child feeling they are behind.

It focuses on one concept at a time, so that each student can master it completely before moving on to the next. This can be a bit tedious for some children, but it is worth it to see their confidence grow. You can read more about it here.