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December 18, 2014
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January 22, 2015

Why Does My Child Hate Math?

We work with many students who’ve struggled in math, sometimes for years. During a first session, many say they’re fuzzy on a certain concept, that they often forget how to do certain kinds of problems, or that they just hate math.

This usually means that there are gaps, either small or large, in the student’s foundational math skills. While a few holes may not have much impact on grades or performance, they can accumulate over time and become real obstacles, especially in more challenging middle and high school math classes.

If your child struggles with homework, gets poor grades on tests, or says they hate math, taking a math diagnostic is a first step to getting them on the right track. It helps us pinpoint what’s causing difficulty, and enables us to create a customized plan. Even students who’ve told us they hate math have gone on to say after a few months that it’s become their favorite subject!

How Do Math Gaps Develop?

In school, teachers cover a large amount of material very quickly. If your child doesn’t master the skill the first time through, chances are good it will pester them later. Maybe they were out sick for a few days, or they were tired or distracted during a key class. It may be that they just need more time to practice, or need the material presented differently. Perhaps a learning disability affects their progress. Whatever the case, in most math classes, each unit is a building block for the next, so missing a few of those early lessons can derail students when they get to more challenging problems.

How We Can Help

We’ve found that customized, one-on-one instruction makes a huge difference for students struggling in math. During sessions, tutors use several strategies to make sure math instruction is fun, focused, and tailored to each child’s needs:

  • Math skills “T” chart: We identify and track specific math skills that each student needs to work on. Some require a brief refresher, while others need significant re-teaching. This allows your child to master a wide variety of skills, including those they find most challenging.
  • I do, we do, you do: This lesson structure ensures that students truly master a concept. First, we model a new skill by showing the student how to complete a few problems. Then we work through a couple more together. Finally the student completes several problems on their own. This is a great way to help students build confidence and gradually increase their proficiency!
  • Looping: This is one of our most effective strategies and is a fun and fast-paced way for students to both master foundational skills and learn new concepts. Tutors thoughtfully choose a few types of math problems and present one question at a time to students to solve. They adjust the level of difficulty as they go, so students are always working on math that is just challenging enough to be interesting but not so difficult that it’s frustrating. As a result, students are engaged, interested, and constantly feel like they are making progress!

If you think your child may need additional support in math, give us a call!

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      Kimberly Pilot

      Tutoring Director

      Contact me!

      312-260-7945 x106

      kpilot@nurturingwisdom.com

      Kim has a bachelor’s degree in public administration from University of Arizona, a master’s degree in special education from University of Illinois at Chicago, and a master’s degree in educational leadership from American College of Education. She previously worked as a teacher for fourteen years, and as a tutoring director for Nurturing Wisdom—we’re excited to have her back on the team! Learn more about her below.

      My favorite class in high school was…geometry (although I prefer algebra) because my teacher, Mr. Warwick, was organized and explained the concepts in an engaging and understandable manner. He made me feel confident when asking questions and was always open to teaching material in a variety of ways.

      I loved UIC because…it allowed me to explore Chicago and meet incredible people while working in a variety of schools and educational programs. The Graduate College of Education had teachers that provided real world context and were very supportive to students’ individual goals.

      On a day off, you’ll find me…at a sporting event for one of my four daughters, floating down the DuPage River, or at the dog park with my dog, Daisy.

      What sets Nurturing Wisdom apart is… the individual care we take with the families we work with and the strong team behind each tutoring decision, including tutoring plans, curriculum, and tutor matches.

      Sarah Tracy

      Tutoring Director

      Contact me!

      312-260-7945 x104

      stracy@nurturingwisdom.com

      Sarah graduated from Marquette University with a bachelor’s degree in education and sociology, and she’s completed coursework in childhood literacy and museum studies. After nine years as a fifth grade teacher in Wauwatosa, Portland, and Chicago, Sarah initially joined NW as a tutor. Learn more about her below!

      A tip I’d give to a student to make the most of tutoring would be… that you get out of it what you put into it. If you put in time and energy, and bring a positive attitude, you’ll achieve so much!

      I loved Marquette University because… it put me on the path to teaching, introduced me to amazing, life-long friends, and made me fall in love with Milwaukee.

      On a day off, you’ll find me… taking a long walk to a coffee shop, chatting with friends, or going on a bike ride and cooking while listening to my latest podcast obsession.

      What sets Nurturing Wisdom apart is… that everyone on the team is a life-long learner at heart, and that we care about the whole student. Everyone is dedicated to getting to know families in order to find a great fit for students and tutors.

      Shannon Crassweller

      Interviewer

      Contact me!

      312-260-7945

      scrassweller@nurturingwisdom.com

      Shannon has a degree in marketing from Creighton University. After working in the business world for over five years, she decided to go back to school to get her master’s degree in elementary education from Quincy University. Learn more about her below!

      My favorite book is… The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. This is an amazing book that made me want to travel and see more of the world.

      My favorite subject in school was… history because I loved learning more about the world and how the past helped shape who we are today.

      On a day off you’ll find me… hanging out with family and friends. In the summer, usually doing something fun outside.

      What sets Nurturing Wisdom apart is… it’s team approach to tutoring as well as it’s individualized curriculum! Both the team approach and the curriculum make tutoring and learning more fun and efficient.

      Fill out my online form.