In Ontario, Canada, the statistics on youth and their math scores have become worrisome. Only forty-eight percent of Grade 6 students and fifty-eight percent of Grade 3 students met the provincial math standard during the last school year, hitting a record low. With these troublesome statistics, it’s more than apparent that students need an extra hand to improve their mathematical abilities. Through enrolling your child in a math help center (or math learning center), you’ll help them build the foundations he or she needs in strengthening their math skills, preventing them from becoming victims of declining Ontario math standards.
Still not sure if a math help center is necessary for your child? Here are three telltale signs that your child needs to be in one:
1. You notice a pattern of frustration when they do their math homework.
When seeing your child do their math homework, you may see furrowed eyebrows, hear deep sighs and maybe a groan here and there – those all point to their frustration from not being able to understand the math at hand. With such frustration, math becomes much more difficult for them to enjoy and advance in.
Without help from a math learning center, that resentment and displeasure from math (a.k.a math anxiety) sticks to your child as they grow older. Such is reflected in Canada’s current K-12 institutions, as more than fifty percent of Canadian high school students choose to drop out of math courses as soon as possible while maintaining the minimal credit requirements. This is later shown in adulthood and educational fields, as only four percent of elementary teachers have a degree in math or math education.
These alarming statistics depict a lack of professionals with mathematical backgrounds, as many teachers may not possess the strongest knowledge in math. How do we expect students to have a solid mathematical understanding of concepts in return?
A math help center, as an educational aid, fills the gaps of your child’s education and strengthens their mathematical abilities. Your child’s frustration will gradually diminish, becoming more confident in math from receiving a more comprehensive and exceptional learning experience.
2. They complain about their math class.
Are you hearing your child complain about math a little too often? Their class environment and the way the teacher gives out lessons may be the cause.
If your child has lots of classmates, it indicates that there is less of a chance for them to gain their teacher’s attention to ask questions and provide clarification. They may not even find themselves learning as efficiently as the rest of the class, as each student goes through their own learning processes. Although some might excel in class, other students may have trouble focusing on reviewing math problems on their own, as they may become easily distracted or fidgety.
When the class environment hinders their learning experience, it’s time for a change of scenery. A math help center can create a relaxed yet academic environment for your child to learn, stimulating their interest and capacity for math and its concepts.
3. They’re highly gifted in math.
“Highly gifted in math? They don’t need a math help center then!”
Here’s the problem: your child, in developing a concrete understanding of the lesson quicker than the rest of their classmates, can’t learn another topic until the teacher says so. When this occurs at every lesson, the math classes will start to bore them. With no challenges or opportunities to cultivate their intelligence, they lose interest in school as their motivation declines. This can lead to acting out in class, a decline in grades, or both. A study by Thomas B. Fordham Institute examined this behaviour, finding that thirty to fifty percent of top students struggled to maintain their academic feats and performance over the course of K-12 schooling. Without morale or a determination to improve, the talents of high-achieving students will unfortunately go to waste.
To help your child’s passion and talent for math to continue to thrive, there must be external resources to challenge and strengthen their skills. A math help center is the perfect place to do so, as it offers all the tools necessary in providing your child with an enticing and enriching math education – no matter the skill level.
There is one common outcome when comparing these three signs: they can all lead to your child ending up with a poor academic performance in math, whether through homework, tests, etc. Even the most gifted student, when bound to a strict math curriculum, can lose motivation in maintaining their grades due to a lack of educational stimulation at their level.
This is why a math help center is needed for your child’s mathematical improvement in school and in life. Experts have stated that children, if scoring below the 50th percentile on standardized tests, need supplemental educational guidance. With a math learning center, your child’s mind can continue to prosper in developing lasting mathematical skills.
If any of these signs apply to your child, we’re here to help them achieve math excellence. As schools shift onto digital platforms due to COVID-19, we continue to be a math learning center dedicated to helping our students receive a high quality and meaningful education in math. Let us help your child not only grow in math abilities, but confidence in becoming an essential problem-solver for the future. Visit our website to find a math tutoring in Mississauga, Brampton, and Oakville, or call us at 1-844-628-4243 to book a free assessment today!
Book a free assessmentCitations:
Guide to After-School Programs – scholastic.com
Child Struggling with Math? 12 Signs [& 7 Ways to Help] – prodigygame.com
Tutoring and After-School Help for Toronto Kids – helpwevegotkids.com
Ontario Elementary Students’ Math Scores Decline on EQAO test – globalnews.ca
Nervous about Numbers: Math Content Knowledge and Math Anxiety of Teacher Candidates – mtrj.library.utoronto.ca
