Homeschool High School Math: The Best Decision We Made To Help My Child
When my oldest son continued to struggle with homeschool high school math, this is the very best decision we made to help!
Math has been a difficult subject for my oldest son for as long as I can remember.
It started with timed tests back in second grade. It continued with difficulties with algebra.
It was an issue that even determined where he applied to college last month (i.e. test optional schools to avoid standardized math tests).
He struggles with math in ways that are more intense than most learners. He has dyscalculia, which creates both a lack of understanding of math concepts, and a struggle to retain math facts.
If you ask him about it, he will shrug and tell you, “Math is just not my thing.”
The Best Decision We Made For Highschool Math
When it was clear that high school level, advanced math was just not a good option for him, we made the decision to move to more practical, everyday math. Most of what we covered was basic consumer math including budgets, balancing a bank account, and conversations about interest rates.
While it was still a struggle at times, he was able to much more easily understand the concepts and apply his learning.
Making the decision to change our math focus to Consumer Math was, by far, the best decision we made for his homeschool high school math.
Homeschool Highschool Consumer Math
There were a variety of reasons why this worked so well for my son, and why I think consumer math can be such a game changer for high schoolers still struggling in math.
Consumer Math is hands-on.
There is something incredibly tangible about consumer math.
Money is something my son understands and interacts with everyday. He knows he needs to save to purchase the parts for his next computer build. He knows we have a budget for eating out. It is already a tangible part of his life.
Consumer math brings math concepts to life in the same way that hands-on manipulatives do for younger kids. It makes math real and accessible, especially for struggling learners..
Consumer Math builds confidence.
Because of its accessibility, my son was much more easily able to understand the material and apply it. This ease that alluded him with other math approaches, built his confidence.
He has a sense of ownership and confidence when it comes to managing daily math expectations. He even understands taxes!
Consumer Math is practical for everyday life.
My son is now eighteen. He is headed into his adult life.
Our focus on consumer math has prepared him for the realities of money management far more successfully that I was at his age.
He understands compound interest, can balance his bank account, and has a monthly budget that he is learning to follow.
Please know, although I was compensated for my time in writing this post, I only share products and resources that genuinely fit my families needs. I hope they help yours as well!
The Best Homeschool Highschool Consumer Math Program
Finding the right consumer math program for my son was not easy.
I found a few textbooks and some very basic enrichment courses, but nothing that really felt like an entire math program. I had resigned myself to having to cobble together something that would work on my own, when I heard about Mr. D Math’s Self-Paced Consumer Math Class.
An Overview Of Mr. D Math
We have known and used Mr. D Math for live classes off and on throughout the years. An engaging teacher, my boys have both enjoyed and learned directly from Mr. D in the past.
Mr. D Math offers learning catered to upper level learners in middle and high school.
He offers several high quality, self-paced math options that allow students to progress at their own pace.
Mr. D Math also offers extra online sessions, for students who need a little extra help.
Consumer Math with Mr. D
Mr. D Math’s Consumer Math course is both engaging and comprehensive.
The Mr. D Math Consumer Math curriculum is a high-school credit course suitable for grades 10-12. This course is a project-based learning course and is self-paced. The projects in the course are designed to have students apply math skills to real world situations, not the mechanics of how to do the math.
It includes units in:
- Goal Setting
- Time Management
- Financing And Buying A Car
- Banking
- An Introduction To The Stock Market
- Working With Percents for Discounts
- Sales Tax
and so much more!
Video based and self-paced, it really is a perfect option for students looking for a more practical approach to high school math!
Mr. D Math is a wonderful resource. Take a look at all of his course offerings, both live and self-paced!
Thank you for sharing this…I’m book marking it for later.