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Make Math Homework Fun - Ten Tips Parents Need to Know

First of all we need a reality check: "Homework" and "fun" rarely belong in the same sentence. However substitute the word "satisfying", "productive", "more enjoyable" or "non-confrontational" and your goal of making math homework more fun for your child (and your family) can easily be met.

1) Remind yourself you are the parent, not the teacher. Your job is to provide a place, enough time, materials and a positive environment for your child to do their work.

2) Music? Yes, television? No! Background music without words, so you can just barely hear it, helps create a positive fun homework atmosphere. Some new age music and classical music work well. Bach is mathematical in its construction. This music should not be from their everyday iPod lists!

3) For the struggling math student, breaking the math assignment down into manageable chunks by creating quick and simple rewards for completion of each chunk often helps. Create a blend of snacks (not candy), drinks, points and stickers for rewards. Some students will prefer an all-at-once-no-stopping plan. Just be sure the option to break it down is always available.

4) Encourage the student to talk and move while they work! Home is not school, they can make talk, sing, sit on their legs, squiggle, as long as they are focused and working!

5) Use flash card drill assignments to make math homework fun by using them to play a game. Throw a Koosh! ball or shoot baskets while reciting cards. Get a game board out with a spinner or dice. Roll or spin and read that number of flash cards before moving.

6) Get a bunch of Legos. Each problem/row/page finished means receiving Legos. Adapt by creating conditions for each size or color. If the answer has four digits, they get four singles, or two doubles or a triple and a single. Multiples of 3 mean blue only. Be creative. When the assignment is complete they can build!

7) Use your Jenga blocks! As a problem/ row is completed take one block out. If the answer is odd, take off two. Try to finish before it falls

8) Once and awhile, if it has been a tough night, or is late, use a simple game board and move and spin as each problem is finished. This puts you with the child and and keep the momentum going and prevents the dreaded head down and I'm too tired moment.

9) Movement can make a difference with any homework assignment's enjoyability factors. Since so much math involves sitting with pencil and paper, look for ways to incorporate movement into the other assignments for the night, thus clearing their heads and make the brain ready for a more concentrated task of math.

10) You are the parent, not the teacher. Never equate approval with grades in school! Praise them for who they are, not what they do.

Creating a healthy overall math environment at home is one of the best things any parent can do. Let the students see parents using math in everyday situations as well as having a variety of fun math games and activities for the whole family to use will contribute to the positive atmosphere needed to make math homework fun as well.

Susan Gnagy Fegan used a structured, sequential multisensory teaching approach for the past 34 years. She saw first hand the benfits of engaging students in productive, hands on activities in class. She created and has presented Make it Fun! Make it Challenging! Make it Multisensory! workshop at conferencnes across the country.

Parents will benefit from having a secret weapon available to them at home with a variety of well researched, fun and innovative ideas at their fingetips. At www.squidoo.com/makeing-math-fun parents will learn more about specific activities to try.

Article Compilation by www.HomeworkSuccessArticleDirectory.com

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