The first question I would ask myself is, HOW bored are they? Is this something they say once in a while whenever they are working on a longer or more repetitive homework assignment? Or do they complain every day after school about how boring math is?
First, just because a student says they are bored doesn't mean the work is too easy. For example, if an assignment comes home that seems too simple, there's usually a reason the teacher assigned it.
One example is asking students to write down each step in solving an equation. When the equations are simple, like 2x + 5 = 11, this seems a bit silly. Many kids will be able to figure out the answer in their head and writing the steps will seem too tedious or boring. It's very tempting to think the teacher is just sending home busy work. However, in this case it's important to practice the the steps one by one so that when the equations get more complex, students will have a solid understanding of what to do, and an easy way to find and correct mistakes before they become bad habits.
Solving complex equations in your head is a fun way to challenge yourself, but it's not a good habit for practicing math on homework assignments. In this case, your child may indeed be bored, but sticking with the homework is still important.
If on the other hand your child seems consistently bored with math, that may require a different approach. The first step is to reach out to the teacher to find out what they think, and if they have any suggestions. Most teachers want all their students to be successful, and will have lots of resources to share for those that are struggling or bored.
Before you reach out to the teacher, check in with your child. Gather as much information about how they feel about math. If grades are available, be sure to check for any missing assignments or low grades. If your student isn't doing homework or classwork, make sure you know why so you can share this with the teacher. The more responsibility students take for their own learning, the more teachers are willing to help.
Be prepared to listen to what the teacher has to say even if it's not exactly what you want to hear. Most teachers will be happy to work with you and your child to make math better. In the event that the teacher is not able or willing to help you, it's appropriate to talk to the principal to see what is available at the school or district level.
If you are unable to get the help you need from school, stay tuned for more blog posts about how you can keep your child engaged with math, even if the school situation is not ideal. There are so many ways to keep your child connected to math! And do reach out anytime to schedule a free 15 minute consultation with me.
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