SAN ANTONIO – A recent study by the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study showed math scores for U.S. students between fourth and eighth grade are declining.
Part of the problem is linked to the number of days students missed from school during COVID-19, but the math scores were already on the decline for U.S. kids prior to that.
LaShaude James, owner of Mathnasium in the Dominion, said the pandemic gave kids a lot of time to learn how to use technology. Now part of the problem he’s seeing is that a lot of the kids are using artificial intelligence to do their math homework.
“I would bet at least 60% (use AI). I always go in with the assumption that it is being used. And when I ask the students, they tend to tell me that either — A. They’re using artificial intelligence to help them solve their complex algebra or their middle school homework, or they have an answer key that’s been provided to them from another student,” James said.
James said the changes in how students are graded in the classroom can also cause parents to be misled about how well their kids are doing, only to see poor test scores.
“A few clues to know whether or not your student might be struggling in class — if you look in the grade book, and you’re seeing a lot of missing assignments or assignments that are graded as a 70, that’s a key indicator that your students are not really keeping up with what’s going on inside of the classroom,” James said. “Another yellow flag is if you’re seeing extremely high homework scores and extremely high classwork scores coupled by surprisingly low test scores, that might be another sign that they’re using some form of help to inflate their grades.”
James said if your child aims to go to college, it’s important that they grasp core math skills early on, such as fractions, multiplication, and word problems in elementary school and algebra and pre-algebra for kids in middle and high school. He said many parents try to hire tutors to help students pass the SAT, but, in many cases, the child is too far behind. Tutoring can cost anywhere from $20 to $45. The older the child is, the more expensive that will be.
But parents can do a lot to ensure that their children are keeping up with their math skills before they need the intervention of a tutor.
“Don’t just ask: ‘Do you have homework or is your homework done?’ Ask questions like, ‘Can you show me what you worked on today? Can you show me your class notes? Tell me how you feel about your math class right now.’ to try to get underneath some of the superficial questions,” James said. “And don’t just let your child rush to the video games at the end of every day just because their math homework is done.”
Parents have a lot on their plate, and James said many of his clients are highly capable parents, but teaching their children math skills is just not that easy.
“I have a lot of parents that are extremely intelligent. They have multiple degrees. They know how to do the math for themselves,” James said. “But it’s extremely difficult for them to communicate to their child. So it’s not that they’re unable to do the math; it’s more of just a communication dynamic.”
If your child needs help, ask the school for free resources. James also recommends the following resources:
- Khan Academy: Khan Academy offers a vast library of free, high-quality educational videos and practice exercises on a wide range of subjects. These resources are aligned with most state standards and can be used by students in middle school and high school. You can find Khan Academy resources here.
- Khan Academy Kids: This platform is specifically designed for younger learners, offering engaging games, activities, and interactive stories that reinforce early learning concepts. It’s a great resource for parents of children in pre-kindergarten through elementary school. You can explore Khan Academy Kids here.
STAAR Released Tests: The Texas Education Agency (TEA) provides free access to released STAAR test questions online. This is a valuable resource for parents who want to familiarize themselves with the format and content of the STAAR tests their children will take. Parents can use these tests to help identify areas where their children may need additional support. You can find the released STAAR tests here.