How To Teach Math At Home Even If You Re Not A Math Person

Leo Migdal

-Nov 17, 2025, 4:14 PM

how to teach math at home even if you re not a math person

Are you homeschooling your kids and feeling nervous about teaching math? You’re not alone. One of the most common things I hear from parents is: "I'm just not a math person. How can I possibly teach it?" Here's the good news: you absolutely can teach math at home, even if math wasn't your favorite subject in school. Instead of long, frustrating sessions, aim for 15–20 focused minutes a day.

Kids retain more when they aren't overwhelmed or burned out. A shorter session allows their brain to stay engaged and curious. You’ll avoid battles and leave them wanting more — a great place to stop! The goal is consistency and momentum, not cramming. Math doesn’t have to be all worksheets. Measuring cups in the kitchen can teach fractions and ratios; building blocks make area and volume come to life.

Clocks, board games, and grocery store price comparisons are all opportunities for real-world math. When kids see how math shows up in everyday life, it becomes meaningful. Hands-on tools make math tangible and fun — especially for active learners. If you hit a tough problem, don’t panic. Take a breath and say, “Let’s figure this out together,” even if you’re unsure yourself. That simple shift shows your child that learning is a process, not a performance.

Modeling a growth mindset helps them develop perseverance and flexibility. You’re teaching them that mistakes are part of the journey — not a dead end. Finding occasions for mathematical joy can be a key part of teaching math, even if you're not a numbers person, writes Ben Orlin. Moses didn’t want to lead. Cincinnatus didn’t want to fight. And you, if you’re reading this—well, I doubt teaching math reduces you to delighted shrieks.

You’re not alone. The US, like other countries, is often left scrambling for math teachers. A few years ago, an Oklahoma superintendent likened his math staffing situation to “showing up in the emergency room with a life-threatening issue.” That makes you akin to a doctor snatched from the break room and told to scrub up for a surgery you’ve never performed. All this to say: welcome to math education! And joking aside, I’m glad to have you as a colleague.

Math is many things: the music of reason, the science of indirect measurement and the logic-game of inventing new logic-games. Your mission is to help students on this journey. My mission is to offer encouragement and advice for your journey. A few years ago, Rachel Thomas, PhD (co-founder of fast.ai) gave an extraordinary workshop to our community about the myth of “not a math person.” After the workshop, I got to thinking that homeschooling... A few months ago, my beloved homeschooling community of friends at SEA homeschoolers, invited me to write an article and give a workshop at their conference on the same topic which you can read... This latest podcast episode is heavily inspired by Rachel’s phenomenal workshop and research on this topic, and includes some of my own curriculum recommendations, which were greatly influenced by recommendations, experimentation, trial and error...

This episode is my expansion of Rachel’s amazing workshop, with some additions of curriculum and concrete tips for homeschoolers. It’s important to me to give credit where credit is due, so I want to emphasize that many of the ideas and studies I cited, especially in the beginning of this episode, were ideas... Rachel was the first person who introduced me to the concept that the myth of “math people” wasn’t real. This is my own take, delivered in a way I think will be helpful to homeschooling parents grappling with this topic. Teach Your Kids Community is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Teach Your Kids: LinkedIn | Website | X | Instagram | Substack | Facebook | TikTok Manisha: LinkedIn | X | Instagram | Facebook Math can be a daunting subject. Not only does it cover a huge range of skills, but it’s also one of the few subjects where a strong understanding of the fundamentals is essential for future learning. Math is taught differently now than when many parents were in school. There’s more focus on the basics, which is great (no, really, it is).

But that can feel incredibly frustrating when you’re trying to help your child understand their math homework. No matter your history with math, you can still help your child master mathematical concepts at home. And you may even have some lightbulb moments you missed in middle school. Whether your child is struggling with math or wants to improve their skills, It’s time to ditch the math stress and tackle this subject together! Keep reading for our 14 best tips to help kids with math. If you have a less than stellar math history, it’s okay!

You can still help your child learn the math they need to succeed. Here’s how. You hear it all the time from people young and old: “I’m not a math person.” All humans are born with number sense. Babies a few days old can distinguish between two and three. But somewhere between preschool and pre-algebra, things go sideways for a lot of kids.

Often, it happens when they don't fully grasp a foundational concept before their class moves on anyway. In traditional school, you can't pause for an individual student. They get shuffled forward with the belief that they're "not a math person." That belief sticks. It becomes self-fulfilling. This is where open education changes the game.

Laura Feller never took calculus. When her youngest son reached algebra, she panicked—how could she teach something she'd never learned? Then she shifted her mindset. She wasn't going to be his math teacher. She was going to be his educational architect. Her job: find the resources that teach it well, get out of the way, and let him learn.

How Ancient Problems Built the Math We Use Today “Why do we even need to learn this?” Every homeschool parent has heard it. Every student has said it.But few... Nov 4, 2025 | Blog, Frequently Asked Questions Every homeschool parent eventually hears it: “I’m done with math.” It’s that moment when the motivation is gone, the patience is thin, and both you and... Can AI Replace College? Here’s What Happened When I Tried It The cost of college keeps going up — but what if your teen could build a real education using AI?...

Have you ever heard your student ask, “When am I ever going to use geometry?”It’s a question that usually comes with an eye roll. But look closer, and you’ll... Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links and I may receive a commission if you visit a link and purchase something from an ad or sponsored link shared. Purchasing via an affiliate link does not cost you any extra. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please see our full disclosure if you’d like more information.

The Art Kit is a participant in the Target Affiliate Marketing Program, an affiliate advertising and marketing program that pays commissions to affiliates, like me, that advertise and link to Target if you buy... (Hands-on activities kids will actually beg to do!) If you’re tired of watching your kids groan every time you pull out another math worksheet, I feel you. Math doesn’t have to mean sitting at a table filling in boxes—it can actually be fun, creative, and gasp something your kids look forward to. Whether you’re homeschooling, teaching a small group, or just sneaking in some learning over summer break, here are 50 fun ways to teach math without worksheets. Bonus: many of these use things you already have at home!

(✅ Perfect for preschool, elementary, and even middle schoolers — just tweak the level!) ⭐️ Teach Math Without Textbooks: Fun and Practical Ideas Math doesn’t have to be taught with heavy textbooks and endless worksheets. In fact, real-world applications and hands-on activities can make learning more engaging and effective. With my daughter, Felisberta, I love exploring different strategies to keep her learning dynamic and fun. If you’re homeschooling and looking for creative ways to teach math without traditional books, here are some great ideas:

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Fractions, measurements, multiplication, and conversions are naturally included in cooking. Let your child measure ingredients, double a recipe, or figure out how to divide portions equally. Cooking is a fun way to reinforce math concepts while making something delicious. Give your child a small budget and let them plan a shopping trip. They can compare prices, calculate discounts, and determine the best deals.

How To Teach Math At Home Even If You Re Not A Math Person

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