For most young math students algebra can be a frustrating and difficult subject to jump into. Mathematical concepts quickly build on each other and homework can be difficult without someone there to help guide them outside of the classroom. Its easy for a simple misunderstanding from a lesson earlier in the school week to balloon into a large frustration later at home and during test time. 

Luckily online tutoring, like The Math Solution, can help alleviate these issues with modern techniques. Our unique method of utilizing two cameras during online algebra tutoring sessions helps to keep students focused and allows tutors to monitor work in real time. This highlights those pesky misunderstandings quickly and allows students to quickly learn proper methods and procedures. 

Our goal is to help you decide the right course of action for your unique student. We offer both private and group online algebra tutoring, and sometimes it can be difficult to decide what would be best for your family. This guide is here to help you make the best decisions and ultimately help your student learn algebra at their pace.

In today’s busy world algebra is a core concept that relates to many areas of our lives. From economics, business, taxes, we adults use algebra every day to help us understand the challenges we face. Young students have even more to worry about including testing, college admissions, future math careers in STEM, etc. Its so important to get the fundamentals down now so we can set students up for success down the road.

Algebra is the language of higher mathematics

Almost every future math class your student will take builds on the concepts learned during their algebra education. From Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, Calculus to full on college level engineering or even biology courses, the basic concepts never change. There are many good reasons to focus in on algebra tutoring now to set up your student for success in the future. Rather than simply memorizing equations and rubrics, it’s pattern recognition and fundamental cognitive techniques that will lead to the greatest success.

An important time for confidence building

This time in your young student’s life is full of confidence challenges, and learning algebra can be one of the most important. This subject can challenge most students and is a period of education that many start to feel “math is just too hard for me, I give up.” That’s the last thing we want them to feel, it’s a thought pattern that can affect them negatively across many subjects. That’s why its so important to give them the support they need now to set them up for success both today and tomorrow. Our online algebra tutoring focusses on the “why” behind these difficult to understand math concepts. Our tutors are there to support their curiosity and challenge their lack of confidence. We want them to grow not only as mathematicians, but as people and find the fun in overcoming challenges and ace their tests!

“I just don’t get it [algebra]”

Have you heard your student say this? It’s not uncommon, in fact it’s a struggle many students around the world feel. Algebra challenges their prior math reasoning skills, it takes time for it to “just click.” Algebra moves away from the core concepts of just finding answers to understanding relationships between concepts, from simple math to conceptual problem solving. Most students find this challenging and if they don’t receive the correct instruction and support during this transitional period they can fall behind. Struggling with algebra is sometimes seen as a sign of low intelligence, but really it’s often the result of small learning gaps that can grow over time. We are building a tower of education, of math, and each brick in the foundation matters.

Students start their algebra journey one piece at a time then quickly put the pieces together to move onto more complex procedures. They move from learning integers, variables, and basic equational relationships to graphing, functions, quadratics and more. It’s essential to understand each brick of the tower before moving on, and one weak brick can influence the stability of understanding the next tier of challenges. This is why students can easily feel “lost” as the lesson plans of many classrooms move at the pace of the entire class rather then focusing on the needs of individual students. Our online algebra tutoring can help to focus in on your student’s needs and reinforce each lesson along the way.

Some students just learn differently

While learning has become standardized in classrooms tutoring opens the door to many ways of demonstration, challenging knowledge and creativity in techniques. Your student may be a more visual or auditory learner. They may like to engage with different colored pens for instance. Whatever the method may be for your student to learn best, you can be sure our tutors will engage with them to discover and benefit from them. There isn’t a “right” way to learn algebra, and while the core concepts may never change (we are talking about math here afterall) there can be some interesting ways to help your particular student engage with the subject matter and learn at their pace and in a “fun” way. 

Most students face challenges during their education from time to time, but repeated frustration with algebra often indicates that help or tutoring could make a big difference. Spotting these indicators early on can help prevent small learning gaps from turning into larger obstacles later in the school year.

Common indicators of algebra challenges include:

• Homework consistently takes longer than it should.
  Even simple assignments become frustrating or require constant coaching.
• Normally higher grades start slipping.
  Quiz and test scores aren’t what they were even with hours of studying.
• Math confidence is lacking.
  Your student often says things like, “I’m just bad at math,” or avoids math homework like the plague.
• Algebra concepts don’t seem to “stick.”
  Skills that were learned last week are forgotten this week..
• High Test anxiety.
  The prospect of an algebra test in the future is terrifying for your student.
• Missing classes caused them to fall behind.
  Often a gap in their school education can cause a domino effect down the road. One extended break (from vacation to injury, etc.) can lead to learning challenges.
• Advanced goals require stronger math skills.
  Prepping for honors classes, the SAT or ACT, or college admissions can challenge even the best learners and many students can use some tutoring help to stay focused and on point.

Luckily you have resources like The Math Solution to help assist your student’s education and identify problem areas before they affect long-term learning. We will work with both your student and you to help everyone understand what is best for the growth of your student and build confidence and problem-solving skills. The earlier you recognize a need for good online tutoring the better!

The Math Solution was created specifically to address some of the main concerns with generic online tutoring. Rather than simply using web cameras to publish math education, The Math Solution focuses on bridging the gap between physical and online education through the use of additional cameras and teaching techniques. By allowing our tutors to review the work your student is doing in real time, immediate correction and/or encouragement can occur exactly when it’s needed. 

Online tutoring also enables a plethora of additional benefits including more flexible scheduling, more controlled learning environments, less hassle with travel/timing, better communication through email, etc. The Math Solution is one of the bnest tools available to help your young algebra student and we are here to answer any questions you might have about how best to utilize our teaching techniques. Please review our helpful FAQ page, read our other articles, and reach out with any questions you might have. 

We want the best for your student!