Math Help - Decimal Help at Home

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     Decimals seem to pose more problems for students than they should.  As adults, it is hard for us to see why students cannot grasp most decimal concepts.  Much like fractions, decimals are difficult to conceptualize because they are not whole numbers. 

     Furthermore, most students do not see the connection between every day life and decimals.  Students comprehend math skills more effectively when the skills are related to their own lives. 

     In order for students to get a grasp on the basics of decimals, they must a) know place value (i.e. in the number 2.34, the 2 is in the ones, the 3 is in the tenths, and the 4 is in the hundredths), and b) be able to relate decimals to real life.

     You can help your child learn decimals by trying the following tips:

·         Show your child how to add decimal numbers and pay particular attention to the way he/she lines up the numbers.  The decimals must be exactly above and below each other.  Quite often, students do not align the decimals properly which results in the wrong answer.

·         Provide a variety of restaurant menus (print some off, borrow them from a restaurant, or make your own) and have your child select items for a meal and calculate the cost.  Or, you can do this when you are actually at the restaurant (it’s a great way to spend time together before the meal comes!).

·         Have your child do rote counting by decimals (e.g. 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 etc…)

·         Have your child earn a hypothetical income and solve money-related math problems using decimals (e.g. taxes, savings, rent, food, clothing…)

·         Get your child to solve math problems involving decimals using tangible objects (e.g. three dollar bills and two quarters equals $3.50 etc…)

     You can use these home lessons to help improve your child’s understanding of decimals.  See which types of ‘home’ lessons work best for your child and try to use them as often as you can.

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