Math Help for 6th Graders
Children of all ages often require help with math, and that includes 6th graders. 6th grade math introduces students to new topics, such as percentages, statistics, ratios, geometry, and probability. Luckily, there are plenty of resources out there, specifically designed to offer math help for 6th graders.
For instance, many parents choose to hire a math tutor for their child. Tutoring can take place online or in person and typically consists of one-on-one attention, helping to address specific areas that a student needs support with. There are also math programs, which children work through outside of school to improve their math skills. Finally, there are online math games for 6th graders like Prodigy Math. Many of these games are curriculum-aligned and not only make math fun but also help students develop math confidence and improve their math test scores. Continue reading to learn more about how you can support your 6th grader with the math help they deserve.
6th Grade Math Curriculum
Math is an important subject, and it becomes increasingly complex as grade levels increase. Since 6th grade often marks the transition from elementary school to middle school, you can expect there to be a significant jump. The 6th-grade math curriculum covers a variety of new subjects. Examples of 6th-grade math topics introduced include percentages, statistics, and probability. By the end of this grade, students are expected to be able to apply and extend previous understandings of arithmetic to algebraic expressions, solve math word problems involving area, surface area, and volume, develop an understanding of statistical variability, and much more. Given the complexity of these topics, it’s not uncommon for students to experience difficulty understanding certain concepts, which is why it is important to have supports in place to help.
How to Help 6th Graders with Math
Helping 6th graders with math can be tough, especially if you don’t know where to start. As a parent, you likely feel a responsibility to ensure they get the help they need. Thankfully, we are here to introduce you to a few common forms of math help for 6th graders, including tutoring and math software. Keep reading for a list of 6th-grade math resources for parents.
Helping with 6th Grade Math Homework
When you see your child struggling with math homework, one option is to try to help them. Helping your child with their 6th-grade math homework is a caring and compassionate response. However, the reality is that math is challenging, and the topics may feel unfamiliar after years away from the classroom. In addition, many parents simply do not have the time to devote to helping their 6th grader with their math homework on a regular basis. This is why experts often recommend alternative math help resources, like those listed below.
Math Software for the 6th Grade
If your 6th grader is struggling with math, then you may wish to consider leveraging online math software. Math software is a form of online math help that ranges from apps to websites. Unlike game-based learning, which we’ll get to below, math software uses other tools to help children improve their 6th grade math skills and grasp important math concepts. Khan Academy and Math is Fun are two examples of math software for 6th graders. Khan Academy is a global classroom designed for students of all ages. When you log onto the website, you will find instruction math videos suited to all grades, including the 6th grade, that can help students understand math concepts of varying complexity. This might be ideal for a child who is struggling with math and who requires additional instruction outside of the classroom. Overall, math software might be a wonderful resource for parents of struggling children.
Math Games for the 6th Grade
6th-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 6th-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 6th 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 6th-grade math help.
Hiring a Math Tutor for Your 6th Grader
Another common form of 6th-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 6th 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 6th-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.
