A lot of children struggle with calculus and mathematics; it has always been the case and always will be. It is no surprise though, as the mathematics syllabus gets harder and harder to combat grade inflation, more children are starting to struggle with this area of mathematics which stumps even the brightest of children and adults nationwide.
Many parents panic when their children appear to be struggling and ask them for help – it doesn’t help that many parents haven’t touched a mathematics syllabus since they were in school, and it goes without saying that the syllabus was very different back then! Whilst calculus is quite a difficult part of mathematics, it is not impossible to get your head around and parents can easily help their children in ways beyond helping them with their calculus homework.
Even if you struggle with calculus yourself, there are many things you can do to help your child get ahead with it.
#1: Speak to the Teacher
Don’t underestimate the power of approaching a teacher and having a discussion with them. At the end of the day, the teacher’s main concern is your child’s learning and development. If they are struggling with their calculus, the teacher should be made aware as soon as possible. The teacher should know your child quite well and is best placed to come up with a solution to help your child with their calculus, even if it involves some one-to-one time.
Start off by sending your child’s teacher a polite email explaining that you are trying to help with their calculus and that you would appreciate any assistance or tips which they have. In addition to helping your child personally, they may be able to point you in the way of some learning resources.
#2: Set Goals to Work Towards
You should avoid getting your child’s calculus out of the way and forgetting about it; this will not help them learn. Instead, set simple goals for your child to work towards, such as solving X amount of problems each night. As your child meets more and more of these goals, you will see their understanding of calculus develop and your child will become a stronger student as a result.
#3: Take Advantage of Free Online Resources
There are tons of free calculus resources out there, from online timetabled classes which take place over several weeks such as edX, to simple blogs which explain the fundamentals of calculus with easy-to-digest blog posts and high-quality videos such as Calculus Help. With all of the resources which are available on the internet, you are bound to find something which is suitable for your child’s age and matches their skill level.
Many parents panic when their children come to them for help with their homework, it’s bad enough helping your child out with their history research project, never mind calculus! It is a subject which baffles the best of us, but there are a number of things you can do to help your child and get their learning back on track.