Paulette Chaffee Offers These 5 Tips to Help Kids Love Math

Math is challenging for many students, especially those who lack confidence in their ability to understand math concepts. However, learning to love this universal language at an early age will help improve classroom experiences and boost children's confidence. Paulette Chaffee says children are naturally curious about math during the beginning stages of brain development, which presents an excellent window of opportunity to create a positive learning experience. Teachers and parents can utilize Chaffee's tips to help students enjoy learning math. 

Tip #1: Incorporate Real-World Learning

The world can be used as a classroom to help students see the importance of math skills outside school walls and make the subject more relatable. Math is present in everyday life, such as when shopping in the grocery store, paying bills, baking, driving to a destination, or waiting at a red light. Having kids practice counting skills when observing the world can be an excellent place to start.

Tip #2: Practice Geometry in Patterns

Shapes and patterns are also associated with learning math. Learning shapes can be fun when using shape blocks to make patterns. Shape blocks are a hands-on approach to understanding the basics of geometry and can creatively challenge students. An example of a stimulating activity would be to ask students to turn patterns into images or utilize all the shape blocks they have to see how big a picture a student can create. 

Tip #3: Use Math Games

If a student does not enjoy math at some level, they most likely will not engage with the subject long term. Creating a balance between practice and play when learning math fundamentals can help incorporate fun into math and make the learning process less stressful. In elementary school, learning math can be integrated when playing with Legos or working through brain teasers, puzzles, or simple board games. As students get older, learning to play games like checkers, chess, backgammon, dominoes, cribbage, Yahtzee, Monopoly, and Set can help them advance their math skills.

Tip #4: Read Books That Support Math Learning

Students who naturally excel in developing reading skills over math can create clearer connections when intermingling the two subjects. Books like One Hundred Angry Ants by Ellinor J. Pinczes or The King's Commissioners by Aileen Friedman are great examples to use to help teach math through reading as the main characters in the story use math or logic to solve problems. 

Tip #5: Give Positive, Meaningful Feedback

For parents that have to help their child with math homework after dealing with the day's challenges, approaching math with a positive attitude can seem next to impossible. However, leading by example is critical as a parent's perspective, attitude, and feelings towards math heavily influence how a child views math. Founder of Math Plus Academy, Raj Shah, points out that even if a parent carries math anxiety of their own, it is crucial to set this aside to support positive cognitive development in the child. 

A child benefits the most when the parent takes on the role of a motivator or coach more so than a teacher. Parents can go beyond repetitive affirmation by paying attention to strategies that a child uses to understand math concepts and pointing out these accomplishments to help a child remember such strategies.

About Paulette Chaffee

Paulette Chaffee is a teacher, speech therapist, and attorney deeply involved in the Fullerton community. As an educator and member of various non-profit boards, her focus has always been on providing children with the highest quality education. Ms. Chaffee holds bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Redlands, a California Lifetime Teaching Credential, and is admitted to the California Bar.