Once I show them how to solve a problem, they usually tell me they don’t remember the math I used, or they remember seeing it but don’t remember it well enough to use it.

In algebra I, students don’t remember key elements of basic math. In geometry, students don’t remember key elements of algebra I. In algebra II, students don’t remember key elements of algebra I or geometry. In trigonometry, students don’t remember the key elements of algebra I, geometry, and algebra II. I also run into a lot of kids who are very weak with fractions and rearranging equations. Most students today have trouble adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing one and two digit numbers without a calculator as well. I believe they don’t learn these skills well because they are permitted to use calculators and are not forced to practice.

These and other math skills are essential to learning the hard sciences and advancing in math courses through high school and into college.

Unfortunately, a lot of the problem with students’ lack of skills has more to do with how they were taught math rather than a failure to learn. Teachers don’t always teach the thinking process of approaching math and hard science problems. Homework isn’t always graded or reviewed in class. Even if it is, students are given less time to ask questions and teachers seem less willing to go back over skills students should already know.

I hear classroom time is so tight these days that teachers don’t have time to go back over previous concepts. Then I hear about “dead” days and days where students just hang out and watch movies or get free hours because a teacher doesn’t have a lesson planned.

In my opinion, if teachers have time for movie and dead days, they could spend more time going back over concepts students missed. They could also spend more class time working homework problems and explaining exactly how to go about approaching them instead of having a dead hour. The best math teacher I ever had was in college, and she would spend the entire next hour working homework problems and explaining how to think about them if we had questions. Granted, that was in college. But in college, you move a lot faster in your coursework than you do in high school. If a college instructor can take the time to go over homework and thoroughly answer questions, so can a high school teacher.

Why is it so hard to take one minute and quickly review a math concept and then move on? It’s not.

Since schools aren’t likely to change their ways and a lot of people can’t afford a tutor, I have some solutions:

The books are from the “For Dummies” series, but they are anything but low level. They are written by experts in each field, take the subject from the beginning concepts to more advanced material focusing on the learning process. They don’t beat around the bush. They get straight to the point and teach the subject thoroughly with relevant examples and step-by-step instructions.

If your student is struggling in math in school, or if you are looking for a good series of books to use in your high school homeschool math curriculum, I highly recommend the above books, and I use them myself to teach my son. I hope you will pick up any “For Dummies” book at your local library and read it before buying. I’m sure you’ll find them extremely helpful. You may even find some “For Dummies” books on subjects you’re interested in learning quickly.

I’d love the hear your thoughts and ideas in the comments,
Sherri

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