Friday, February 17, 2012

Finding Online Kindergarten Math Games That Can Help Struggling ...

When a child falls behind in math, it can be a frustrating experience for both kids and parents. This is particularly true during kindergarten classes. Most kindergarten classes introduce base 10 and maybe basic addition skills, but even so, kids can fall behind at this crucial early point. It can be hard for struggling kids to catch up to their classmates.

As a parent, you can help your child by using kindergarten math games and consistent at-home practice. Whether or not your kindergartner has shown specific weaknesses in certain areas or not, practice with an appropriate math program will help your child learn more effectively and can make a huge difference in his or her education.

Why Kindergarten Math Games Work

Kindergarten math games are not a complete substitute for good teaching and a nurturing classroom environment.

However, they're an effective way to bridge the gap between a parent and a teacher and can inspire your child to learn while giving you the tools you need to monitor their progress.

Most math games are online, which makes them easy to access from virtually any computer. They have low system requirements, too, despite their bright colors and graphics. The programs lead children through a series of exercises that gradually introduce new math concepts. Older lessons are occasionally re-introduced to make sure that the child hasn't forgotten any important ideas.

The best math games will chart a child's progress and provide this information to teachers and parents.

At the kindergarten age, it may be difficult to spot major weak areas, as children will often become bored or distracted during lessons, but online math games make it easier to spot these weaknesses, allowing teachers and parents to use differentiated instruction techniques to approach the problem lessons in a different way.

Choosing The Right Games

If you're considering at-home computer math games for your child, it pays to spend some time evaluating your options. Online math games need to be age-appropriate, but they should have access to more advanced lessons, as this will allow you to use the program through the crucial first few years of your child's education.

The games should also have ample reporting capabilities. Look for games that were developed with adaptive learning techniques in mind. Any math program can provide a simple list of exercises, but the best games will go above and beyond by offering a complete learning system that adapts to your child's strength and weaknesses.

Remember to practice consistently, but not to the point of frustration. Schedule a regular time for your child to use kindergarten math games and stick to your schedule. When a certain lesson seems especially difficult, inform the child's teacher and try different instruction techniques to get the concepts of the material across. Online math games have excellent benefits when used correctly, but ultimately, it's your duty as a parent to make sure that each new concept is firmly understood before the next is introduced. Math games make this process much easier and can be enormously beneficial in the long run, allowing kids to learn lifelong math skills in a fun and engaging way.

Source: http://education.ezinemark.com/finding-online-kindergarten-math-games-that-can-help-struggling-students-7d338e347a91.html

richard cordray shannon de lima joe torre west virginia university michele bachmann jessica biel west virginia

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