If your child comes to you with help on math you can help… even if you’re not confident about your own math abilities. Figure This! has a terrific list of questions you can use to guide your student. Here are some of them:

• What is the problem you’re working on?
• What do the directions say?
• What words or directions don’t you understand?
• Where do you think you should begin?
• What do you already know that can help you work through the problem?
• Tell me what you’ve done so far.
• Where can we find help in your textbook or notes?
• Are there similar problems to look at?
• Let’s try drawing a picture or making a diagram.
• What did the teacher ask you to do?
• Who can you call to get help?
• Should we tackle this when you’re not so tired?