Your method might conflict with the method taught in school and add to his confusion and frustration.

But there are things you can do to help your child do better in math:

• Encourage mastery of basic math facts. Mastery means your child can add, subtract, divide, or multiply numbers to 10 in three seconds. Try flash cards for review.

• Encourage your child to do more problems than the teacher assigns.

• Encourage doing everyday math. Ask your child to help you figure a 15 percent tip at the restaurant. Or calculate the cost of gasoline for a trip.

• Ask questions to help your child solve the problem. “Where do you think you could start?” “What is the problem asking you to do?” “Would drawing a picture or diagram help?”

• Suggest that your child start every assignment by reviewing the textbook or worksheet examples. He can redo the examples before starting the assignment.

• Check your child’s understanding of math vocabulary. Can he define new terms? Can he use models and simple problems to show you he understands how the term is used?

• Show a little sympathy when your child shouts “I just don’t get this!” Respond with “It looks like a tough one.”

• Ask your child’s teacher if your child needs extra help.

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