Math Skills

Muddled Over Math


Teaching a struggling student math can be very overwhelming — Take one step at a time.

The first step is to determine what the child knows and what they don't know.

If they can do these, you are on the winning stretch -- the remaining math skills are much easier to teach.

Connecting Your Child to Math.

The next step is to build on, and add to, the child's existing strengths and knowledge.

For example, if you child has mastered their doubles, you can use them to teach doubles plus one addition problems (5 + 4 = 4 + 4 + one more = 9) or times 2, 4 and 8 (x2 = a double, x4 = a double + a double, x8 = times 4 + times 4).

To learn math skills, students need to master a great number of skills. To be better equipped to empower these students to meet the challenges of math, parents and educators can access worksheets, resources and proven techniques on site to enrich your child's learning experience.

Strategy Considerations and Methods

The final step is to discover what works or doesn't work.
  • Memorizing Facts Generally Doesn't Work
  • Look for the System
  • Build on What They Know
  • Give Students 'Strategy Tools'


Generally, math is best taught as a system.
For example, to teach multiplication as a system, 'times 4' can be taught as a double plus a double. So all 'times 4' facts can be taught by giving students this one instruction.
(eg., since the double of 6 is 12, then 4 x 6 = 12 + 12 = 24).
A strategy tool would be to show them the math ladder for subtraction.

Making Math Less of a Chore.

See our Teaching Resources for Math Skills for specifically designed worksheets, lesson plans, etc.

Our math worksheets are complete with answers so students can self-check their work.

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Trusted Math Tools at Your Fingertips.

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