Don't Be Scared of Teaching Homeschool Math

Math is the number one subject home educators say they feel unqualified to teach. Teaching homeschool mathematics is intimidating for many parents. We often feel we do not have a strong enough grasp of it ourselves, or that we need to outsource it to someone else. Math was my least favorite subject in school. And now? It is one of my favorite parts of homeschooling. Join me in saying: Math is fun!

🧮 What Montessori says about math anxiety and the parent as guide: Maria Montessori believed that the adult's role in education is not to be the source of all knowledge but to prepare the environment and guide the child's natural curiosity. She specifically noted that a parent or teacher who approaches a subject with openness and humility, saying "let us discover this together," models the most important lesson of all: that learning is a lifelong process, not a performance. Research on math anxiety (Maloney and Beilock, 2012, Trends in Cognitive Sciences) found that parental math anxiety only transfers to children when parents help with math homework in a stressed or uncertain way. Parents who approach math with curiosity and openness, regardless of their own skill level, do not pass anxiety on to their children. A 2019 study in Child Development confirmed that children whose parents expressed positive attitudes toward math, even without strong math skills themselves, showed significantly higher math achievement and lower math anxiety than peers.

1. Homeschool Math Is Not Like It Was in School

What stands out most from math in school? For many parents it is standing at the blackboard being asked to solve an equation in front of the entire class. After speaking with thousands of homeschool parents, this is a top memory for many of them too. When children are put on the spot, feel embarrassed, or are singled out, it can be genuinely harmful to their relationship with mathematics.

When I was a child I could solve problems on my own. The moment a teacher put me in front of the class, I froze. Many of you likely experienced the same thing. Identifying this as a negative pattern helps us move forward with teaching differently.

The second thing that stands out: worksheets. So. Many. Worksheets. By choosing to teach at home, we can teach competency and closure instead. No busywork or repetitive worksheets required.

Teaching homeschool math looks completely different from the standard school model. It can be relaxed, engaging, and yes, genuinely fun!

2. You Can Custom-Tailor for Each Child

There is no pressure to move a child along to keep pace with a class, and no pressure to stick to what a specific grade level says they need to learn. You have the freedom to repeat lessons as many times as needed, or as your child desires. If a concept is proving difficult, you can set it aside and return to it later. If there is a lesson they love, they can repeat it to their heart's content.

You can also incorporate lessons and activities based on each child's unique interests. Have a budding entrepreneur? Bring in business math. Have a child who is always on the move? Use kinesthetic activities to keep them engaged and give them the movement they need.

3. Math Games Make Learning Joyful

Teaching through games builds math skills and much more. Games develop social skills, visual and spatial awareness, reading, and strategic thinking. We are fortunate to be home educators at a time when there is a vast availability of games that make math genuinely enjoyable. Classic children's games reinforce concepts without children even realizing they are learning. A weekly family game night is both fun and educational.

4. There Is Math Everywhere

Growing up, most of us knew we needed to learn math to function in the world, but struggled to see how worksheets connected to real life. By teaching at home, we can involve children in the day-to-day uses of mathematics. They can count out money at the store, measure ingredients while cooking, and help track speed on the road. Once we start looking, we find ways to weave math into daily life without children even noticing.

5. We Script Everything for You

When using ShillerLearning's materials, everything is scripted. There is no need to study up on concepts beforehand, and no need to learn "new math." You do not even need to know all the answers. All you need to do is read the scripts to your child. If you come across something unfamiliar, you can learn alongside your student. Children love seeing their parents model a love of learning.

Our materials are open-and-go, require no prep work, and no advance study on your part. We designed them this way specifically to take the fear out of teaching.