Math is one of those core subjects that will always be an important part of education. Finding the right way to teach it matters, because every child learns differently. Some kids naturally enjoy math and move through it quickly, while others need more time, repetition, and hands-on practice before a concept really clicks.
Why You Should Supplement Elementary Math at Home
Before I talk about my favorite Math Program, I want to share with you why you should be doing math with your kid even if they go to a public school.
Elementary math education is not always as rigorous as it needs to be in the public school setting. In my experience, children are often not given enough practice to truly master math concepts before moving on to the next lesson. Unfortunately, this is because of the limited time to cover a full year’s curriculum. Below are three reasons why I strongly recommend supplementing math at home.
1. Kids Need More Practice to Master Math
A child may understand a concept once it is taught, but that does not mean they have mastered it. Mastery happens when a child can solve problems accurately, quickly, and independently. Additional math practice at home gives kids the repetition they need to build fluency in addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, place value, and word problems.
2. Kids Need Better and Faster Math Strategies
In my personal experience, I have seen my kids learn strategies at school that were not always the most effective way to solve problems. At home, we can show our children that there are faster, clearer, and more efficient ways to think through math. This is where strategies like mental math, number bonds, bar models, manipulative, ten-frames, and arrays can be incredibly helpful. When kids learn better strategies early, they are better prepared for more complex math in the future.
3. Extra Math at Home Can Help With Testing and Advanced Classes
Doing additional math at home can also help children become stronger test takers. When kids are fluent with math facts, comfortable with word problems, and confident using different strategies, they are better prepared for standardized tests. This matters because standardized test performance can play a role in placement for GT programs, advanced math tracks, and other accelerated learning opportunities. Strong math skills demonstrate higher-level academic readiness and can open doors for children as they move through school.
For us, supplementing math at home is not about pressure. It is about making sure my child has enough practice, better strategies, and the confidence to truly understand math.
Why we Use Singapore Math
There are many homeschool math curriculums available, and it may take some trial and error to find the right fit for your family. For us, that program has been Singapore Math. It is the first math curriculum we fully committed to, and we have not felt the need to switch.
- Singapore Math is one of the most respected math approaches in the world because students in Singapore consistently rank at the top in global math performance. In the 2022 PISA assessment Singapore ranked first in mathematics. This is one reason many homeschool families choose Singapore Math to build strong math knowledge and skills.
- It is a mastery-based program, which means students spend time building a strong understanding of one concept before moving on to the next. While it does not spiral in the same way some other math programs do, there are supplemental books and resources available if your child needs extra practice or review.
- Singapore Math does an excellent job of using concrete and pictorial methods to introduce math concepts. This is part of the Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract approach, where children first use hands-on objects, then visual models, and finally abstract numbers and symbols.
- Singapore Math focuses on conceptual understanding, mental math, critical thinking, and problem solving. In fact, in the PISA test, they found that students could interpret and recognize how a simple situation can be represented mathematically. This is critical to understanding the application of math to the real world.
You can read more about Singapore Math on their website.
What you will need to teach a level of Dimensions Singapore Math
A level in Singapore Math Dimensions correlates to a full grade in school. If you are anything like our homeschool, your kid will likely move at a faster pace than at school and it is completely ok to move ahead to the next level at that time.
To teach one level you will need the following resources:
- Workbook A and B
- Textbook A and B
- Teacher’s Guide or Home Instructor’s Guide A and B. (This will give you the answers to the problems and give you a guide to help teach)
If you are fluent in math, you don’t necessarily need the guide to help you teach math. I use them mostly for the answers to the workbook problems.
Other Useful Supplemental Resources from Singapore math
Singapore Math offers so many supplemental resources that you will never have to supplement with another curriculum. As much as we love Singapore Math, if it is not a fit for your child, don’t feel pressured to stick with it. Find what works for your child. That is key for learning and retention. But if your child just needs a little extra, here are some that are offered through Singapore Math.
Extra Practice: This book offers additional practice at the same difficulty level as the Workbook.
Intensive Practice: The chapters are condensed and incrementally increase in difficulty. The bar models are drawn for the word problems, which was different from EP.
Challenging Word Problems: This book is full of word problems. I love this book because it shows you how to solve word problems before jumping into the exercise.
Sprints: These are timed math fact exercises with the intent to increase agility in computing and mental math.
Tests: There is Test A and B, which correlate with the workbook. Each chapter is tested, followed by a final test. I have a blog that gives you more detail about using the Test resources.
The Secret to Teaching Math: Hands-On Manipulatives
Now that we understand what we need from Singapore Math, let’s talk about what truly makes teaching math most effective.
I recently had a mom ask me for strategies to help her child remember math facts. When I asked her what she was doing, she said that she removed all manipulative so that her child can strengthen her math facts.
That first stage of learning is key to a strong foundation. It is like describing something to someone without showing them what it is. I told this mom to reintroduce the manipulatives and give it time before her child could quickly add simple math facts.
While, how you learn matters, time and practice are also key to building math skills.
We have used a lot of math manipulatives in our home, starting from our Montessori learning days. Children build stronger foundational math concepts when they can touch it, feel it, count it, move it, and see it. They make math feel less intimidating and more playful. You do not always need fancy materials either. You can use LEGO, Magna-Tiles, blocks, cars, buttons, snacks, or anything you already have at home. The goal is to help your child see math instead of only memorizing it.
Best Math Manipulatives for Elementary Kids
If you are wondering what to get, here are a few that we have and use in our home.
MathLink Cubes are one of the most useful math manipulatives for elementary kids. They can be used to teach number sense, addition, subtraction, skip counting, early multiplication, place value, patterns, and more.
Super Sorting Pie I originally purchased the Super Sorting Pie as a sensorial learning toy for my toddler, but it is useful for so many math activities. You can use it to teach sorting, colors, counting, grouping, comparing, and even basic word problems in their younger years.
Fraction Cubes and Fraction Circles: If you are teaching fractions, I highly recommend having both fraction cubes and fraction circles. Fractions can feel very abstract to kids. Having both the bar model and circle visual helps children understand parts of a whole in more than one way.
Magnetic Ten-Frame is one of my favorite tools for early math. I have used it from pre-K to first grade level and can be very helpful for later grades too for visual learning. Ten-frames are great for building number sense, making ten, addition, subtraction, and mental math.
Two-Color Counters are not always required, but they are very useful. I have used them to teach addition, subtraction, arrays, multiplication, division, and even early algebra thinking. They are simple, but they give kids a strong visual for what is happening in a problem.
Portable Whiteboard We use ours for math, spelling, quick review, and solving problems together. It also makes it possible to move learning around the house instead of always sitting at one table.
100 Board is a classic Montessori math tool. It helps children sequence numbers from 1 to 100, but it can also be used for skip counting, patterns, addition, subtraction, place value, and number recognition.
Stamp Game Since we love Montessori materials, I purchased the Stamp Game early in our homeschool journey. It can be used to teach all four operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Recently, I pulled this treasure out to teach my first grader multiplication and division, and he had a lot of fun with it.
Final Thoughts
Don’t be afraid to go above and beyond with your kids. Education matters not just because of grades or test scores but because math is essential in the real world.
Strong math skills help children think logically, solve problems, manage money, understand patterns, and build confidence in everyday life. When we give our kids extra practice and support at home, we are not just helping them do better in school. We are helping them build skills they will use for the rest of their lives.
