Carrie Cutler is a mom of eight kids, six of whom are expected to learn at home while schools are closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But Cutler has a leg up on many folks thrust into this situation: she’s a former grade school teacher who now teaches mathematics education at the University of Houston. She recently published a book about teaching math to children: “Math-Positive Mindsets: Growing a Child’s Mind Without Losing Yours”
Cutler says “math doesn’t have to come easily to be a worthwhile pursuit.”
Here are a few tips from Cutler for parents tasked with maintaining their child’s education at home:
– How we teach math has changed over the years; it’s OK to learn while your child learns, too
– Don’t use language that gives your kids permission to dislike math
– Have your kids show you what they learned at school
– Don’t be afraid to lean on online tutorials. Here’s a helpful one from the University of Houston
– Don’t put too much stress on yourself or your kids; take a break if you need one
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Written by Laura Rice.
