Geometry Help: Tips to help your child successfully learn geometry

High school geometry has two different goals that make this course fundamentally different from all the other high school math courses.

Geometry Help: Goals for a Good Geometry Course
The first goal is that the student should learn the properties of plane and solid figures. An example of this is the Pythagorean Theorem, a property of right triangles.

Will learning skills in geometry help my child in real life?
Yes! Your child will learn the skill of mathematical reasoning, which isn't emphasized in the other high school math courses because it is not as accessible there as it is in geometry.

Mathematical Reasoning is developed by studying triangles, quadrilaterals, circles, area, and so on, and at the same time, will learn how proofs are used to build up a mathematical system.

In some less rigorous courses, the proof aspect is de-emphasized. Also in some courses, more contemporary approaches, such as transformational geometry, are introduced.

This will develop a basis for critical reasoning and deductive thinking skills that every adult needs in life.

Geometry Help: What the Student Should Achieve
The overall goal of the student is to understand and retain the many definitions, theorems and formulas of geometry and also, in a deductive course, learn how to write mathematical proofs.

By the way, many parents are not really certain why their child needs to learn math at all. If you can't confidently answer why your child should learn geometry, please read my article about why every child needs a good high school math education.

When to Get Extra Geometry Help
If the course homework gets too hard for your student (and you) to complete in a reasonable amount of time, extra help outside the classroom may be necessary. There are great software products like Geometry Solved! which may be more user friendly than a workbook for a teenager!

Or, for more hands-on geometry help, you may want to consider hiring a math tutor. Be sure to read my article about setting expectations for a math tutor and managing your working relationship.

Don't wait until your child is hopelessly lost in the subject before seeking remediation and geometry help. It's important to get adequate math help, either from his teacher, a peer tutor, a math software package or a professional tutor when you see your child struggling with homework and brnging home lower quiz and test scores than you would otherwise expect.

It's very important for your child "get the hang" of geometric thought and techniques now, while the concepts are more concrete. This will, in turn, ready your child for the more abstract concepts to come later in the course and in his or her math education career.

Investing in math skills enrichment, like the courses offered by Kumon (pronounced koo-Mohn), an after-school program may be well worth the time and money you'll spend.

It's important to lighten things up sometimes, so I wrote up some of my favorite Geometry Jokes that I've collected throughout my many years teaching this course. Pepper a few jokes into your child's day to help relieve tension.

Learn the key Geometry topics and skills that should be covered in a good geometry course.

Discover how the Pythagorean Theorem works.

Expertise in calculating percentages helps your child earn top scores in math and science classes and on the ACT and SAT tests. Learn more about how to help your child become a percents expert.

American Math Education has some pitfalls. Read about how our math education standards have been lowered and why.

Do you know HOW we learn math skills. Read this article about the Act of Learning Math and how a child's processes and retains the math skills he's taught.

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