Tutoring Your Teen in Math

Continue to follow this procedure with each new problem until he can explain the steps. Then concentrate on teaching him to do the steps in order. Have him start a new problem and go as far as he can without looking at the resources. When he falters, let him look at the next step. Continue until he can work the problems without help. When he can do this, watch him work each problem until you are certain he is doing it correctly. Only then should he work alone. One problem many students have with homework is that they do all the problems without supervision-and they do them all wrong. By the time they find out they are wrong, they have the incorrect method locked in their brains.

Even though a student seems to have mastered the work the day you teach it, he must review. When working with my children I presented them with one problem from the last five skills they learned. They had to do them before they had even looked at their math books. If they could do the skill three days in a row, I decided they had it down. Then I retested on it once a week until they had passed it three times in a row. After that, I did only occasional reviews.

Be sure to find ways to apply the math you are teaching. Students are much more likely to remember the work when they actually find a use for it.

Have fun!

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