Parents: Math is Math

by Maggie Robbins

Yesterday I ventured out of the house to visit my grandchildren. To not be able to hug and kiss them was torture — but just being able to see them, from a safe distance, was a great feeling. As I stood on the sidewalk, I observed my son’s neighbors conversing, 6 feet apart, I heard them talking about the struggles they are having with working from home and helping their children with schoolwork.
As a former math teacher and Rocketbook’s Education Advisor, my ears perked up when I heard these adults complaining about how confusing math seems to be these days. One person said she told her son to “carry the 1” and he argued with her and told her she didn’t know how to add! Another mother said she told her daughter to “borrow” when doing subtraction and was also scolded for her lack of understanding of math.
I chuckled and explained to these engaged parents that math standards, CCSS, in particular, is quite a deviation from how they learned the basics.
I told them that many teachers secretly feel the same way they do — math is math. Now isn’t the time to relearn how you learned — do the best you can.
So parents, to help your children as they transition to the virtual learning world: teach them fractions by baking together, teach them measurement by hanging pictures, teach them decimals by ordering from restaurant menus. Keep them engaged by connecting math with your everyday lives.
You got this !!!!!!