Math Help for 5th Graders
Math can be a tough subject, so it is completely normal if your 5th grader is struggling to grasp it. That’s where 5th-grade math help resources come in. These resources can be especially effective when they are aligned with what your child is learning in school.
At this point in time, your child is likely being taught a wide range of 5th-grade math topics, such as how to multiply and divide fractions and decimals, graph points, convert like measurement units, and understand volume. As a parent, you want your child to succeed in school, so if you notice they’re falling behind, you probably want to do all that you can to get them the math help they deserve.
There are a few different types of math help for 5th graders to be aware of. For instance, you can hire a math tutor who can provide them with one-on-one attention outside of the classroom. You can also have your child use math software, such as Khan Academy, where they can receive virtual instruction through videos and practice using digital worksheets. One other option is to sign up your child for a math game. Math games like Prodigy Math are both fun and effective. Prodigy’s game-based learning has been shown to improve math confidence among students, and may even help improve their math test scores and problem solving speed. For an in-depth look into math help resources for 5th graders and how they can help students who are finding math difficult, keep reading.
5th Grade Math Curriculum
Math is a foundational skill that shows up in everyday life. It also happens to be a major part of your child’s education. Because each year’s curriculum builds on the last, if you fall behind one year, it can be difficult to catch up the next. That’s why 5th-grade math is really an extension of everything your child learned in 4th grade.
The 5th grade math curriculum focuses on a wide range of topics, such as classifying two-dimensional figures into categories based on their properties, performing operations with multi-digit whole numbers and with decimals to hundredths, using equivalent fractions as a strategy to add and subtract fractions, and writing and interpreting numerical expressions.
If your child is struggling to grasp these important 5th-grade math skills, you may want to consider exploring different math help resources, especially those that are curriculum-aligned, like Prodigy Math.
How to Help 5th Graders with Math
5th graders deserve the help they need, but there are many ways to go about it. For example, some parents prefer to be more hands-on and help their children themselves, while others may wish to hire a tutor or utilize a digital resource. To help you decide which form of math help is the right fit for your child, we outlined a few popular options below.
Helping with 5th Grade Math Homework
When a child is struggling with their math homework, some parents will sit with their children and try to explain different math concepts to them. This is a supportive approach, but many parents do not have the time to offer regular math help to their children. In some cases, 5th-grade math topics may feel unfamiliar after years away from the classroom. For these reasons, helping your 5th-grade child directly with math may not be the most effective option. Luckily, there are several others to choose from.
Math Software for the 5th Grade
Instead of helping your 5th grader with their math homework directly, why not set them up for success through math software? Math software encompasses both apps and websites, with Khan Academy and Math is Fun being two popular examples. Typically, kids log in to a platform where they can view lessons or read explanations to help them understand key concepts..The software may also feature digital math puzzles, manipulatives, and worksheets, all of which students can use to practice the concepts they’ve learned. One of the main benefits of math software is that it's accessible anytime, anywhere, because it is online.
Math Games for the 5th Grade
5th-grade math games are another great option if your child is struggling with math. Such games share some of the same advantages as math software. Namely, that they are played online and therefore can be accessed at any time, no matter where your child is. This makes them a convenient and accessible option for parents and children alike.
To help you gain a better understanding of how math games work, let’s do an analysis of Prodigy, a leading online math game for 5th-grade students. Prodigy immerses users in a role-playing game where they participate in math duels against in-game characters. A user can only progress to the next level when they have correctly answered the math problems presented to them.
What’s so great about Prodigy is that it uses adaptive learning and differentiated instruction principles to adjust to the needs and abilities of each student who plays it. It’s also curriculum-aligned, which means that your 5th grader will be answering questions that align with what they are learning in school. This makes it a perfect complement to classroom learning.
Importantly, Prodigy’s math research shows just how effective gamifying math can be. But don’t take our word for it, check out the following stats: Students who used Prodigy the most saw up to 5x greater improvement in math, and students at Clifton Public Schools in New Jersey mastered 68% more math skills per month when using Prodigy in the year 2019-2020 compared to the year 2018-2019. When compared to traditional learning, digital game-based learning has been shown to be more effective in improving the mathematical learning of students. Clearly, online game-based learning has benefits for math students, making it an effective option if your child requires 5th-grade math help.
Hiring a Math Tutor for Your 5th Grader
Another common form of 5th-grade math help is to hire a tutor for your child. Tutors have plenty of benefits. Namely, they provide one-on-one attention that your child may not receive in the classroom. A great tutor will also adapt their teaching style to each student, employing the best strategy to help them learn. Tutors can personalize lesson plans, spending more time on topics that your child may have trouble grasping and less time on others that they have an easier time understanding.
Nowadays, math tutors come in many forms. They can be virtual or in-person, and they can be private tutors or work for a tutoring center. There might even be group tutoring sessions offered in your area, as opposed to traditional one-on-one tutoring sessions. Ultimately, hiring a tutor for your child can be a great decision, but choosing which one to hire can be tricky. You will need to consider a range of factors, including your budget, schedule, and your child’s needs and learning style. It is also important to note that tutoring can be expensive. The average cost of a math tutor is approximately $40 USD per hour. However, this number can differ based on factors like location, the level of tutoring required, how experienced the tutor is, and whether the tutor is private or from a tutoring company.
Prodigy
Are you ready to find your child the math help they deserve? Get started today with Prodigy, featuring an online math game that is standards-aligned and loved by 5th graders.
Not only is game-based learning considered to be an effective (and fun!) form of math help, but Prodigy comes with several additional benefits for parents, teachers, and students. As mentioned, Prodigy is standards-aligned, which can provide peace of mind knowing that your child is playing a game that reinforces the very same 5th-grade math skills taught in class. Second, Prodigy is free for students and is available for children in the first grade up to the eighth grade. This means that parents with a wide range of budgets can take advantage of this platform. Another reason so many parents choose Prodigy is for the Teacher/Parent Dashboard that is built into it. Parents can log into the platform at any time and access this dashboard, which provides detailed reports on usage and progress. For example, you can clearly see how often your child is logging into and engaging with the game, as well as how they are performing throughout the game. This information is powerful, as it can help you identify and address learning gaps, which can also be shared with your child’s teacher.
One final reason to give Prodigy a try is that it makes learning fun. Trying to make math fun is at the heart of our immersive, role-playing fantasy math game. Thankfully, our goal has been achieved, with research showing that using Prodigy can improve enjoyment among students who had previously cited low math enjoyment. Join the fun and have your child sign up for Prodigy today.
