Will my kid always be good at math?

Question

My son is in the 4th grade and he is great at Math. This is a subject that he hardly has to study he just knows numbers. I print 6th grade math worksheets for him to do in his spare time and he knows this stuff after I show him once. Will he always be good at math?Should I keep giving him harder Math to do? He gets mad when I do this he says "I know this stuff mom why are you makin me do this".

Answer 1

My Father used to give me extra Maths at home, I was quiet good at it for a while then totally lost interest, now I don't deal with numbers at all. Re-doing Maths worksheets is pointless and boring for a growing mind, it would be much better to show him other mathematical related lessons, fractions and the like, unless you want him to be an accountant. I'd let him know what options there are for mathematicians and tell Maths is an important tool for Scientists, Architects and other professions. But alone it is a little pointless.

Answer 2

If he gets angry at what you're doing I think you should take the hint.

If he loves math and shows signs of wanting to learn more and more then, by all means, you could help him learn more advanced math. If, though, he's not looking to learn any more than he already knows right now; then leave it at that.

While some kids may get bored with stuff they already know and wish they could have more challenges, others don't understand why - if they get an A in something - parents want "yet more".

There's another factor, and that is that there is a difference between what a child wants/expects from school and whether he/she wants that same thing from parents. Some kids want a break from school and want parents to "give it a rest" and just be parents for a while. I'm not saying parents shouldn't provide support and even supplement what the schools offer, particularly when a child goes to public school; but sometimes supplementing a child's education is more providing him/her with the opportunities to learn at home with activites that are worthwhile while, at the same time, allowing the child to pursue those activities as fun. When parents turn themselves into self-appointed teachers it can seem to be too much for some kids.

His remarks pretty much tell you what you ought to be doing. Tell him you'll be happy to offer some math challenges if he ever wants that, but go with his preference. His reasoning is probably that he does well and doesn't need "tutoring".

If he's natural with math he'll probably always be good at it. The risk for him is probably more that he'll get to seventh or eighth grade and become less interested in school and more interested in something else. If he isn't always good in math it won't be because of any lack of ability, but it could happen if he stops paying attention or doing homework and loses ground in the factual knowledge that's being taught.

That's why - in my opinion - its important that you pay more attention to keeping him motivated and happy with math and his good grades than to "turn him off" by pushing when he doesn't appear to want that. Kids see what teachers are as one thing and what mothers are as something else. Some parents seem to equate themselves with teachers as "all the adults interested in helping children....", and that's good up to a point; but there's a point where - from the viewpoint of the child - parents can cross the line.

I was always a really big "supplementer of education" for my kids, but there's a difference between offering activities that they will just do on their own and acting like you're their teacher, and after hours is still school.

Answer 3

Yes and no.

He has an aptitutde for math, so he will always be comfortable with numbers - doesn't mean he's a genuis (although he might be) just gifted....but you can be very good at something and still not enjoy it (I'm a great dishwasher, but that doesn't mean I like to do it any more than the next person). In a perfect world we would all enjoy doing the things we are good at....that doesn't mean you should give your son a pass....if his school work in math isn't challenging him, he needs to be placed in a harder math class - if necessary, in a higher grade. He may not like the idea, and he may not thank you, but the idea of school is to help kids develop. Math could be part of his ticket to a good college, etc... Also, when he's exposed to all the interesting parts of math, he may find that he likes it a good deal more than he thinks (or lets on).

Answer 4

He'll always be good at it if he keeps working on it, the brain is like any other muscle you need to keep using it in order not to lose it. Just try to vary the stuff you print out for him cuz if he gets frustrated or bored, he may start to hate math and no longer want to do it. Try just once a week giving him a worksheet from 6th grade and keep going up a chapter each week until you see where he starts to strugle to get an idea of his potential. IT's nice to see an involved parent doing the right thing!

Answer 5

Well, he might always be good at math, but not in other courses which you may mistake for math.

I was great at math in elementary school, when it was all memorization. No matter how many rows or columns there were, addition was addition, division was division, etc.

However, as the classes progressed in jr and high school, I completely lost interest. You see, these "math" classes no longer involve numbers. They introduce characters, symbols, variables, parenthesis, and all kinds of other things that have nothing to do with math.

In classes like these, there are multiple steps that have to be done in the right order, and there is only one right answer. This is where creative students who prefer to read, debate, play music, write, etc. lose interest.

Answer 6

He probably will be. Once in awhile though, something comes along to trip them up. Keep working with him, but don't force him. It's possible to burn him out too. Also, working too far ahead will cause him to get bored with it in school. You don't want him to lose focus in class.

It's great to see a parent so involved with their child. Sounds like you're doing a great job. Keep it up!!

My daughters thing is spelling. She's on her second year strait of 100's on all her tests. She's in a new school this year and we're excited. If she makes it, she'll be recognized, unlike last year. It's a great feeling for kids to know they're doing so well.

Good luck!!

Answer 7

He will probably always be good in Math. But talent in Math is not the same as talent in arithmetic. You should start working on problem solving. There are good games for this that make it fun. Wff N' Proof comes to mind. Other things you could do would be for him to learn chess. Chess teaches one how to think logically and work through problems. The key is to make Math and Problem solving Fun.

Answer 8

If he has the love of math in him now I'm sure he will carry it through to his teenage and adult years. I would get him tested so he is not working below or above his level and keeps the interest there, sounds like a great engineer or scientist in the making, good-luck with him.

Answer 9

Most kids level off at about 3rd grade. If he's excelled up to that point and is continuing that path, then yes, math is his thing. Keep doing what you're doing. Have you considered having him tested for the gifted program at school? They will keep him challenged.

Answer 10

Keep it up mom!! It's great that you've introduced him to harder math already. If he gets bored, keep making it harder/more interesting for him. Also, talk to his teacher and see if there are any advanced math classes he could get into at school.