There are generally two reactions when it comes to math: you either love it, or you hate it. And for the students who hate math, it often stems from a lack of confidence in their ability to achieve. Students who lack confidence tend to avoid math and are likely looking forward to the time when they are finished with their math requirements. Most students don’t realize that even if they aren’t pursuing a math or science degree in college, they will still have to take a college-level math class. 

College-level math sounds more intimidating than it is. The purpose of these requirements is to provide an opportunity to improve math proficiency, a foundational skill for success in higher education and life, in general. College-level math courses help students build their problem-solving and critical thinking skills, which supports their learning and performance in other courses. According to The Mathematical Association of America, a well-designed mathematics curriculum, “provides students with core knowledge […] and tools to solve problems,” such as developing critical reasoning to dispel or accept information as fact or fiction and improving verbal and written communication skills. 

As parents of high school homeschool students, making informed decisions that support your student’s math journey is incredibly important to their college readiness and success. Read on to learn how you can best support your child’s college math readiness.

Assessing Your High School Student’s Math Needs

Understanding your high school student’s current math proficiency is pivotal in preparing them for college-level mathematics. Before determining the best approach for their education, it’s essential to conduct a comprehensive assessment of their skills and knowledge. 

ResponsibleHomeschooling.org recommends administering a test that provides ample feedback. You want to know more than how many questions your child got correct. Instead, you want to administer a test that provides detailed descriptions of the types of problems that your child answered incorrectly, with suggestions of the areas of focus for improvement. 

While most math programs offer informal assessments, there are various alternative methods to consider:

Tutoring Centers

These centers often provide math assessments and detailed program suggestions tailored to your child’s needs.

Formal Comprehensive Testing

Tests like P.A.S.S. by Hewitt Learning or MAP by NWEA offer detailed feedback beyond correct answers, highlighting areas for improvement.

Online Assessment

Math-U-See by Demme Learning offers a simple assessment to gauge your child’s math abilities, accompanied by examples that you can use to have your child demonstrate their understanding. Once completed, it provides a recommended placement level, helping you to select an appropriate curriculum path based on your child’s current knowledge.

PSAT

This standardized test offers insights into your child’s math comprehension and can guide their preparation for college-level mathematics. Typically taken during junior year, it is possible to take this test as a tenth-grade student. Results are not reported during the college application process, so this can be used as an effective tool to support college math preparations.

These assessment methods will help you to identify your child’s strengths and areas needing more support, helping you to select the math resources and programs that are most suitable for them. 

Choosing Math Programs for High School Students

When choosing math programs for high school students, several factors should be carefully considered to ensure the best fit for homeschoolers. 

1) Does It Align with Future College Plans or Career Aspirations?

Whether pursuing STEAM fields or humanities, selecting a high school math curriculum that complements future college plans is important. As mentioned, at least one college-level math course will likely be required, regardless of whether or not your child will be pursuing a math or science degree. 

2) Does the Program Allow Customization, Flexibility, and Adaptability?

Customization allows you to meet your child’s individual learning styles and pacing. Every student has unique learning needs and preferences and will move through the material at different speeds. A curriculum that offers flexibility allows you to tailor the learning experience to meet your child where they are. 

A benefit to a homeschool curriculum is that you can move at your child’s pace and make adjustments as needed, whether that is speeding up because your child mastered the content quickly, or slowing down to provide additional time for practice and mastery. When you’re selecting a program, especially virtual programs or resources that have set time limits, be sure that there is enough extra time built into the program that allows for this flexibility.

Additionally, adaptability ensures that the curriculum can accommodate changes in your child’s academic progress or interests over time. This flexibility fosters a dynamic learning environment that promotes student engagement, mastery of concepts, and ultimately, success in mathematics.

3) Is the Program Effective?

Assessing factors such as student engagement, comprehension, and progress tracking is an important step in selecting a math program that empowers your child and provides a foundation for academic success.

Some tips for evaluating the effectiveness of a math program are:

1. Alignment with Learning Objectives: Ensure the program aligns with the educational goals you have set for your child, and covers the necessary mathematical concepts for your student’s grade level.
2. Clear Learning Progression: Look for a program that provides a clear and logical sequence of topics, building upon previously learned concepts in a coherent manner.
3. Engaging Instruction: Assess the program’s instructional approach to determine if it is engaging, interactive, and suited to your student’s learning style. Look for opportunities for hands-on activities, visual aids, and real-world applications of math concepts.
4. Teacher Support and Resources: Consider the level of support available for parents or instructors, such as teacher guides, answer keys, instructional videos, and online forums or support communities.
5. Student Engagement and Motivation: Evaluate the program’s ability to keep students motivated and engaged in their learning. Look for features such as interactive lessons, multimedia resources, and opportunities for student choice and autonomy.

Strategies for Building Math Confidence

If your child identifies as hating math, chances are they don’t feel confident that they can succeed in math. You may hear them complain about the purpose of math or find that they push off their math assignments as long as they can. In addition to learning new math concepts, it is important to focus on building math confidence and resilience, which will allow your child to learn math strategies with greater ease and provide your child the ability to find success.

Here are several practical strategies you can implement with your high school student to build their math confidence:

Encourage a Growth Mindset

A growth mindset is “the belief that your abilities can improve with effort and learning.” When your child is faced with a challenge that feels daunting to them, focus on the effort they are putting into their learning. Encourage them to see that learning is a step-by-step process, and that getting it right the first time is not the goal.

Provide Positive Feedback

Acknowledge the effort they are putting into learning math. Highlight what they are getting right, rather than focusing solely on areas of improvement. Celebrate every achievement in their math learning, no matter how small the win. When they feel good about the progress they are making, they will feel encouraged to keep moving forward.

Utilize Resources

There are fantastic math apps, websites, and resources available that can help make math fun. Explore tutorials, interactive websites, and game-like apps that can provide extra practice and support, without feeling like more work.

Real-World Application

Math is all around you. Show your child how the concept they are currently learning applies to their life. When you show your child how math is relevant and useful, it will reinforce the practicality and importance, and motivate your child to want to understand and learn more. 

Seek Support

Teaching your child to become a self-advocate is an important life skill. When they are struggling to understand a concept, encourage them to ask questions and to ask for additional time or practice. Provide extra support to your child as needed, whether it is through hiring a private tutor or finding a study group. 

With greater confidence, your child can approach challenging math concepts with determination and resilience, which will support them during their college careers and later in life. Encourage regular practice, reinforce what they are learning in the classroom, and relate the skills they are learning to their life to deepen their understanding and build their confidence in their math abilities.

Preparing for the Unknown: Importance of Mastery

Mastering high school math lays the foundation for advanced studies in multiple fields such as science, engineering, economics and computer science. In addition, it equips students with problem-solving skills and critical thinking necessary for success in higher education. A strong grasp of math concepts enhances overall cognitive development and prepares students to navigate real-world challenges with confidence.

Mastery also fosters confidence by providing students with a deep understanding of foundational principles, enabling them to tackle complex problems with greater ease. This confidence extends beyond mathematics, empowering students to approach all academic challenges with resilience and self-assurance. Through mastery, students develop the skills and mindset necessary to excel in future academic endeavors, laying a solid foundation for lifelong learning and success.

Advanced math proficiency can open the doors to more opportunities in college and beyond. In today’s technology-driven world, proficiency in advanced math is highly sought after, and with stronger math skills, students increase their competitiveness. 

That being said, be cautious about getting caught up in the push for more advanced math courses if your child is truly not interested. Taking advanced math courses simply to increase one’s competitiveness in the college application process or future job markets can have the opposite effect. If your child does not have the foundation required for advanced courses, or the desire to put in the amount of effort needed to master advanced concepts, enrolling in these courses has the potential to shake their confidence and turn your child away from math. When selecting an advanced math course, it is recommended that the course be in alignment with your child’s future goals and academic plans, rather than making a decision based on what they believe they should do to get into their dream college.

Moving Forward

When preparing your high school student for college, it is important to ensure that they have the math confidence they need. Whether they love or hate math, fostering a growth mindset, resilience, and mastery of math concepts are essential components. By conducting comprehensive assessments, selecting appropriate math programs, and implementing targeted strategies to build math confidence, you can empower your child for success in college-level mathematics and beyond. As your child develops a strong mathematical foundation and problem-solving and critical thinking skills, they not only will excel academically, but they will also gain valuable tools for navigating real-world challenges. With careful planning and support, your child can confidently embrace their academic journey, equipped with the skills and mindset necessary for lifelong learning and success.

Ready to assess your student’s readiness? Try our online placement tool!