Are you new to the world of math help websites? Perhaps you have a student who is struggling in math, or one who does well in math but you want them to work ahead and master more challenging topics.
Whatever the situation, you’ll find that math websites, like everything else on the internet, are abundant. It can be hard to know which ones are trustworthy and which ones will truly help your child.
We know you want the best for your children, especially when it comes to their education, so today we’ll review some myths about math help websites and the facts you need to know.
Knowledge is power, and this article will help you navigate the world of math websites with a little more insight, including what to look for and what to avoid.
5 Myths About Math Help Websites and Facts About Great Ones
Myth #1: All math help blogs and websites are written by qualified teachers and tutors.
It can be easy to fall into the mindset that anything written on the internet, including math help websites and blogs, is written by a qualified teacher or tutor. You hope that the websites you find do their due diligence when it comes to their content, but you can’t always be sure.
The fact is that anyone can set up a website and claim to be an authority in math. But unless the blog is written by a vetted teacher or tutor, it’s possible that the information may not have been fact-checked, and it could be inaccurate.
So as you’re seeking out new math resources and websites, look for sites that are well-established. Look for brands and names with good reputations, and look for sites that are professional, well-written and have few errors. If you see basic errors in the written content, you may want to steer clear of their math problems.
We also suggest that you check the reviews to be sure that others are saying positive things about them. A simple Google search of the site name plus “reviews” can give you great insight into what others have experienced with the site you are considering.
If you’re still unsure, you can ask your student’s teacher at school to take a look at the site and make sure some of their main principles are accurate. The teacher should be able to tell you if the content on the site is good and reliable or not.
Myth #2: A math help website will simply answer my math problems or give me answers for my homework.
A great math help website will go far beyond simply giving you the answers to common problems. Your student should not expect that – and this will not help them learn anyway!
While some websites may have equation generators for when you’re really stuck, a great math help website will give your student the tools they need to solve not only that one problem but insight into the method behind the problem.
This helps your student build a strong foundation that will give them confidence in their math skills for years to come – especially as math problems get more difficult.
A great website should not just solve math problems, but show you how to figure out the answer through written explanations or even video tutorials. An added bonus would be a site that offers a variety of math worksheets, so your student can practice that type of problem as many times as they need to.
Myth #3: If you find what you need on a math website, you don’t need a tutor.
Math help websites are designed to give information, but are not designed to take the place of a math tutor. If you’re hesitant about committing to a math tutor, you may think that just by using a math help website will be enough to help your student in math.
In reality, this is not an ideal way for your student to learn or get help on tough math concepts. Nothing can replace the experience of working one-on-one with a qualified math tutor! This could be either an in-person tutor or an online tutor; either way, the expert help your child will receive is invaluable.
There are also many variables that come into play when your student needs math help. Your math tutor will take the time to get to know your student’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as their learning style. If traditional methods aren’t working, your tutor should be able to come up with unique ideas that will help your student learn best.
Your tutor should also be familiar with your child’s specific curriculum and how the teacher is teaching it, so that your student can practice outside of the classroom and then take that knowledge back into the classroom for success.
Finally, spending time with a tutor can teach your student other skills and help them build confidence in their abilities in a safe, comfortable environment. That extra personal touch, which you can’t get from a website alone, can be an excellent motivator!
Myth #4: A math help website and online tutor are not as useful as an in-person tutor.
While some people believe that a website can replace a one-on-one tutor, which we have addressed above, others may be skeptical of the quality of an online tutor.
While you don’t want to rely just on a math help website, tutoring should be an important tool in your math arsenal. Fortunately, you can get many of the benefits mentioned above from either an in-person oronline tutor, so you can choose what works best for you and your child.
An online tutor will still give your student personalized attention, even though they’re not in the same room. In fact, for some students, online tutors can be more effective, as they allow your student to learn and practice math in an environment where they’re comfortable – your home, in most cases.
Also, since you won’t be restricted to your specific area or city, you’ll have a larger pool of tutors to choose from — so you can find one who gets along well with your child. Not to mention, you won’t have to worry about commuting anywhere, which is helpful if you and/or your child have a busy schedule.
The technology aspect should not be a deterrent when it comes to online tutoring, either. Most likely, your student is already used to using technological devices and online methods to communicate, and online tutoring can take this one step further. Your student will likely find online tutoring and math worksheets more engaging, especially those that use a gamification model and prizes as motivation.
There is research to show that students learn just as well this way, if not better, and you’ll find that many classrooms have adopted online learning in some form or fashion anyway. Online tutoring may be just the thing that your student needs to build on what they have learned in the classroom and excel.
Myth #5: Quality Math Tutoring & Websites Will Be Too Expensive
You may think that the only way to get quality math help is to spend a lot of money on an expensive tutor or tutoring program. Of course, you may find in-person tutoring expensive, and more expensive websites do exist, but you don’t have to spend a fortune to get quality math help.
Tutors may charge anywhere from $30 to $85 an hour, depending on your location, as well as the tutor’s experience and levels covered. And as your student’s math level gets more difficult, you could expect to pay more. This hourly rate strictly covers the tutor’s time, with anything extra — like materials or transportation reimbursement — adding to the cost. This is usually the case at math tutoring centers, too.
Online tutoring typically works a little bit differently, especially if you are using a full online tutoring program or math app that comes with added tutoring support. With many of these online tutoring programs, you are paying for tutoring time as well as any extra benefits the program may provide, such as math worksheets and tutorials, feedback on worksheets outside of tutoring sessions, test prep time and more.
At Thinkster, our math program subscriptions start at $30 a month for access to math worksheets alone or $60 a month for plans that come with daily teacher grading and feedback. And we offer tiered pricing so that you can choose the plan that works best for your student’s needs.
Try Our Math Website
When it comes to reputable math help websites, we recommend you take a look at Thinkster. Our blog is fact-checked and reviewed by knowledgeable math experts to give you a solid base of information. To give some examples, we have received the Seal of Approval from the National Parenting Center and have also been covered by all the major media like The New York Times, CBS, NBC, Fox, ABC, Forbes, Parent & Child and many more.
But our program is also so much more than a math help website and a math problem solving app. We provide online tutoring as well as a full program of unlimited math worksheets with video tutorials, homework help, test preparation, and more.
Give our math program a try for free for 7 days and you’ll find you don’t need to look at any other websites for math help for your student. We strive to make lifelong learners and math champions out of all of our students.
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