Executive Functioning + Math = A Formula for Success!

By Emma Michiels, Instructor

It’s probably been awhile since you tackled algebraic equations, or solved geometry proofs, right? Fortunately, you don’t need to be a math whiz to help your child work their way through their math homework. This is where executive function skills come in handy. Executive functioning strategies, such as those that support planning, task initiation, problem-solving, mental organization and self-monitoring, can prove very beneficial when applied to math content. By using the tips below, you can harness the power of executive functioning to help your child create a formula for success in math:

Encourage “Teaching” 

One of the best ways for a student to solidify their understanding of a mathematical concept is to explain it to someone else. Encourage your child to be the expert, teaching you how to solve a problem or concept in a step-by-step fashion. By explaining the process, your student will both reinforce their knowledge and also identify any areas of confusion. In addition, teaching someone else can act as a confidence booster. This is because they are forced to play the expert and you are cast as the novice (which is perfect for parents whose math skills are a bit rusty to begin with!)

Create a Cheat Sheet 

A cheat sheet is a handy resource that helps organize key concepts and formulas on a particular topic. Work with your child to create a cheat sheet as a means of reviewing a unit or as a study strategy before an upcoming test. Allow your child the autonomy to create the cheat sheet either digitally or on paper, and using language that makes sense to them. The more involved a student is in creating supporting resources, the more likely they are to use them independently moving forward. 

Help Your Student Get Unstuck

Math can be frustrating when you are stuck on a difficult problem. Encourage your child to write out a quick list of “Getting Unstuck” strategies to have on hand. This might include using teacher-provided resources like class notes, textbooks, or the course website. It might also include accessing external resources like Khan Academy. Getting unstuck strategies could involve breaking the problem into smaller, more manageable parts, or skipping the problem and returning to it later. By identifying and talking through these strategies in advance, you can help your child know what to do when they hit a roadblock (which they will, sooner or later). 

Promote a Turtle-Like Approach

Many students rush through math problems, leading to errors and misunderstandings. Encourage your child to approach math like a turtle—slow and steady. This starts with reading instructions carefully. Some students even benefit from reading directions out loud, annotating the written instructions and/or doing a quick recap of the directions in their own words before moving on. Whatever strategy they use, students should make sure they understand the problem before attempting to solve it. 

Another place to encourage turtley-ness is when checking work. Support a more deliberate approach by working with your child to create an explicit checklist of how and what to check work for. This might include reminders to check work for units, compare it against what the directions asked for and/or make sure there are no skipped questions. Practice running through the checklist together to limit silly mistakes and/or avoidable errors.

A final example of turtle power: Encourage your child to review and analyze graded assessments. Oftentimes, kids are out of sight, out of mind with tests and quizzes. Unfortunately, this means they don’t always reap the benefits of learning from their mistakes. Instead, help your child access their graded tests (this may require emailing the teacher together, which is great self-advocacy practice anyway!) and analyze the assessment for patterns and take-aways. What kinds of questions did they get right on the test? What kinds did they miss? And what might that say about their study and review process moving forward?

Remember, you don’t have to be an expert in math to help your child. You can add a lot of value by helping them access their executive function toolbox to support academic success. In conjunction with this, try to model positivity and a growth mindset approach when it comes to math, rather than articulating anxiety or avoidance in front of your child. Together, you can create an environment where your child feels confident and capable of tackling any math problem set that comes their way.