8 Questions to Ask Yourself to Ensure Your Student is on Track

I find that by the end of October, most families have hit a groove in their homeschool routine. The question is “How do you know if what you’re doing is working?” I’ve got a few questions you can ask yourself to make sure your student is on track with their math lessons, and he or she stays there.

IS MY STUDENT DOING THEIR MATH?

This might seem like a silly question, but every year I have a handful of customers write in who are saddened to learn that their student hadn’t been doing quite as much math as they had thought. Yes, I do the teaching, but you need to have your hands in it too.  I like to think of us as a tag team. So, stop for a short minute and make sure they are doing their work.

• Are you hearing the NTML theme song? I’m hoping you’ve heard that song about 30-60 times by now and that it hasn’t driven you crazy yet. Some moms say it’s “music to their ears,” both literally and figuratively. Once they hear it from across the house, they’re instantly content knowing their student is on task. So, listen for it! It should be part of most of your days. 
• What other sounds are you hearing? If your student uses our automated Online Grading, you should also be hearing the familiar ding of success and sometimes the whistle that reminds your kiddo to try again. Both sounds are sure indicators that math learning is going on!
• Have you checked your email? The most concrete indicator that your kiddo is doing math is the Report you should receive after any assignment is submitted in our Online Grading system. As soon as they hit “submit,” you should get an email with a report of how they did. It takes literal seconds to see the email, glance at the score and go about your day with confidence knowing that math is done for the day! And because you can look up any report at anytime, you don’t even need to really read the report right when it comes in. Just make it a habit to expect that email. If it doesn’t come, check with your kiddo. 
• Are you keeping up with the grading? If you don’t use Online Grading, then your student should be giving you work to grade several times each week. (By the way, if you want to try out this feature for free, just reply to this email and ask for an Online Grading Free Trial.) 

IS OUR MATH SETUP WORKING?

A successful math setup can look a thousand different ways. The trick is to find the one that works for you and your kiddo.

• When does your student do math? My son needs to do it right after breakfast when his tummy is full, his brain is awake and his mood is fresh. But maybe your kid needs to do it during the toddler’s naptime so it’s peaceful and quiet? Or perhaps your student does best sitting at the kitchen table while you make dinner? Figure out the best time for your student and go with that.  Being particular about when your student does math also helps insure consistency. You’re less likely to bail on the math lesson if it’s built into a specific time slot of your day. 
• Where does your student do math? As much as I wanted to use our dedicated school room, I see more success when my son is sitting at the kitchen table. But, maybe your kiddo likes the privacy of their bedroom or the comfort of the family room? Wherever it is, your student should be comfortable, not distracted and ready to learn. (Little warning here…as much as homeschool moms like to say  that “school can be done anywhere,” I find that Saxon Math is not the best type of lesson to do in the car or while waiting at the orthodontist. Math takes a special kind of concentration. Save spelling or reading for those sporadic situations.)
• What kind of math student do you have? Is your student a Margin Mather, a Mental Magician or a Neat Notebooker? Margin Mathers work out their problems by writing microscopically in the margin of their textbook. Mental Magicians try to solve most, if not all, problems in their head. And Neat Notebookers take the time to write out each problem on paper in a dedicated math notebook. I’m sure you can guess which one has the best success with their math lessons! (I’m not saying that every student needs to do every single problem written fully out on paper, but I am suggesting you consider the best approach for your student.)
• How often does your student do math? Most of us would likely agree that one of the biggest perks of homeschooling is being able to make all/most of the educational decisions for your students. And, many of us might also say that one of the biggest challenges of homeschooling is needing to make all/most of the educational decisions for your students. 🙂 What if we demand too much from our kids? What if we don’t expect enough? How do we know what to do? I get it. I am right there with ya when it comes to some subjects. But, not math. I have no doubt that math needs to be completed at least four times each week. And, I’m not saying this just because I like math. I promise. I am saying this because math requires not only repetition, it also requires frequency. And in order for that frequency to be purposeful, there cannot be big gaps in between. If your schedule does not allow a full line-up of subjects M-F, please try to give math one of the top spots so that it is done as frequently as possible. I would shoot for at least four times each week. 

That probably seems like a lot to consider. So maybe just commit to paying close attention to math time in your home for the next couple of weeks. If you see an obvious problem with an easy fix, go for it. If you notice a possible issue, take some more time to assess the situation. Or maybe you become aware of a glaring concern that requires a big change. Take your time to find a solution and adjust the situation when you can.  

You got this, Mama! I know you do.

Nicole