How to Be a Math Masters Mom

As a homeschool mom we try to do it all, until... we can't.

As a Scio Academy Math Masters mom,  you don't have to do it all. In fact, that's why we are here.  However, you are still mom, which means that you still have a very important role to play. Let's look at that role together.

1. you have the power: veto power, that is. As a Math Master, your child receives assignments, challenges, and schedules. However, all of these expectations are contingent on you. If you don't think your child is ready for the challenge problems in the AOPS book, then he's probably not ready. You know your child better than anyone. We are here to mentor your child through some tough stuff, but at the end of the day, you are the parent and we will always respect you as your child's authority.
2. your eyes are ever watching. Due to the nature of online classes and the fact that you may change an assignment, you are the eyes for checking your child's work. Here are some guidelines to help you check your child's math work each week:
   • • • Try to check your child's math work each day, if not each day, then twice per week - once around the weekend (Friday or Monday) and once the morning before class (Wednesday or Thursday).
       • What to look for: neatness, showing his or her work, circled answers
       • Randomly select a few odd-numbered problems to check the answers in the back of the book. If you have the answer key, don't only choose odds. Only check a few and jump around. Your child will pick up on any patterns you follow for checking work, by being as random as possible he doesn't know which problems you will check, which keeps him on his toes. (math toes anyway).
       • encourage your child - compliment one thing you see that she has done well with in her math notebook.
       • remind your child that she can email her mentor with any of the problems that she is struggling with. It isn't a hassle, it's part of being a math master.
3. you are the proctor. Students should have some assessments throughout the year to have formal grades for their work. This is expecially true for high school students. Each chapter in your child's math text has a review which can be used as an open-book test and Math Masters membership includes semester long finals for you to administer as closed-book assessments. We will speak more on the specifics of grading in October.
4. be a conversation starter. Ask your child about her live math class. What did you talk about? How do you do that? What's one thing that you learned in class today? These are fairly standard questions, but the test of true comprehension is the ability to explain it to someone else. Ask your child each week to explain one thing (not 5) from his math class. Just one.
5. reach out for help. If you don't understand how to do any of these steps or think that your child is struggling in math, email your math mentor. Yes, the family membership includes you too. Any math or math checking questions you have can be sent directly to us. We are happy to help you pursue a great math education with your children!

There it is, five simple but important things to do as a math master mom. What is it they say in those Home Depot commercials? You can do this, we will help!