So, how does your child learn best?
Everyone learns differently, and this is especially true in maths.
Some kids need to see the problems laid out in front of them. Others need to hold something in their hands in order to understand. Then you have the students that just need someone to talk them through things.
The problem here is that…
Most classrooms use a rigid, one-size-fits-all teaching method.
It means hundreds (if not thousands) of students miss out on learning how to think mathematically every year. They come home frustrated, believing they are “no good at maths”.
But here’s the secret…
Kids are not “no good at maths”. They just haven’t found the learning style that best suits them yet.
Why traditional maths teaching fails students
Maths tutoring in schools can sometimes be broken down into numbers. That’s right, and 99% of schools in Australia have maths students who were already behind at the start of the year.
Classroom learning wasn’t designed with students like your son or daughter in mind. The teacher-to-student ratio is between 25 to 30 in the average Australian classroom. So even the best of teachers can only do so much to reach every student.
Imagine this…
You have three students in front of you. Student A picks up multiplication tables like it’s no big deal. Student B needs to draw pictures of every problem. Student C learns best by acting out word problems.
All three are in the same class. All three are expected to reach the same level at the same time.
Professional maths tutoring services focus on the best ways to adapt teaching to match a student’s natural learning style. Not the other way around, where the student is forced to change the way they learn.
Understanding Different Learning Styles in Maths
There are four learning styles. All of these types have different ways in which they prefer to learn. Below is an overview of each learning style and how it translates to maths learning…
Visual Learners
These kids need to see in order to understand math concepts. Visual learners prefer diagrams, graphs, colour-coded notes, videos, charts, and more.
These types of students find traditional, textbook-type problems difficult to engage with. Just numbers on a page? No thank you. Visual aids? They light up.
Auditory Learners
Auditory learners, on the other hand, pick up on maths concepts best when they hear and discuss them out loud. These are the students that everyone else is worried about when they are “talking to themselves” during their maths homework.
Auditory learners are learning by talking through the problems in their head. Encourage them to say things out loud and discuss it with someone else, and their learning ability will skyrocket.
Kinesthetic Learners
Kinesthetic learners are the kids you know who always need to be moving and touching something while they learn. These are the types that can learn using manipulatives like blocks, acting out word problems, or by building models.
Traditional “sit still and listen” classrooms are awful for these students. But put something in their hands to use as they work through problems? You will wonder where they were all year.
Reading/Writing Learners
Reading/Writing learners are self-explanatory. These students learn best using written language.
They prefer to take extensive notes, follow written instructions, and write out word-for-word solutions to problems. The more written words, the better.
How Personalised Tutoring Changes Everything
Ok, get ready for this one…
Did you know that AI-powered personalised learning can increase retention rates by 30%?
The focus here isn’t about AI, but personalised learning. Adapting to the best ways a student naturally learns.
Assessment is Step 1
A quality tutor assesses a student before even thinking about starting a maths program. This includes current skill levels, preferred learning style, knowledge gaps, and overall confidence.
Sounds like a lot but it’s worth it. You can’t start building a personalised plan without getting to know the student first.
Flexibility in Teaching Methods
The tutor then adapts their methods of teaching based on the student’s learning style. If visual aids are helpful, more diagrams. If manipulatives work better? Bring on the blocks. If talking through problems is the key? Encourage discussions.
It’s that simple.
The tutor meets the student where they are at, not where they “should” be based on some predetermined standard.
Constant Progress Checks
Regular checks of progress are what truly makes personalised tutoring special. Are there still certain topics that are a struggle? Time to change the approach.
On the other hand, if the student is mastering concepts much faster than anticipated? Speed up the program.
Personalised maths tutoring is the polar opposite of the “same for all” approach of classroom learning. A program for 30 students simply cannot be flexible.
Building a Custom Maths Plan
Creating a personalised plan is easy. It does take some time but will be so much more effective than any cookie-cutter approach. Below is how to get started on making a plan just for your child…
Identify their Learning Style
Take note of the way your child approaches maths and homework by default. Do they doodle while thinking? Talk through problems with themselves or others? Fidget nonstop? Read instructions over and over again?
Most kids have a dominant learning style with some preference for the others. No biggie.
Find the Right Tutor
Not all tutors are going to be a great match for your child. Look for tutors that focus on asking about a child’s learning style right from the start.
A good tutor offers flexible teaching methods, focuses on understanding rather than memorising, and tracks student progress throughout the program.
The relationship between a tutor and student is important. If they’re not getting along, then don’t be afraid to find someone else.
Set Realistic Goals
Personalised doesn’t mean immediate results. Set small, achievable goals to start with. These can include learning and understanding one concept at a time, increasing quiz scores by 10%, completing homework independently, or building confidence in asking questions.
Celebrate each one of these “wins”. It will build momentum.
Regular Review and Adjust
Students and their needs grow, which means your plan should too. Check in once a month to see what’s working, what needs to change, whether goals are too easy/hard, or if the learning style assessment still stands.
Kids change, their learning needs change, and so should the plan.
Mistakes to Avoid
If there’s one thing that seems to derail most personalised plans, it’s this…
Expecting too much too soon.
If your child has been struggling with maths for months or years, they aren’t suddenly going to love it after a couple of tutoring sessions. Have patience, let the process play out.
Forcing a learning style that doesn’t fit is also a mistake. Just because you might learn best by reading things doesn’t mean your child does. Let your child learn in the way that best suits them.
And finally, comparing your child’s progress to another student. Personalised learning also means personalised timelines. The progress of your child is unique to them. It isn’t a competition.
Wrapping Things Up
Every child can do maths.
The key is in finding the right approach for them. For a visual learner, that means diagrams, graphs, colour codes, videos, and more. For a kinesthetic learner, it means manipulatives, acting out word problems, and building models.
One size never fits all.
Adapting a maths program for a student’s unique learning needs starts with assessing the student and their needs. Then it continues with flexible teaching methods and regular progress checks.
The result? Students that finally “get” maths and more importantly, believe they can learn. Creating the right, personalised approach for a child takes time and effort. But watching a struggling student become a confident problem-solver? Priceless.
