If you want to know how to homeschool high school math, you need to know three things – and none of them involve actual math knowledge. At every step of the way, from kindergarten to high school graduation, these are (in my opinion) what will make or break you and your student. They are 1) your attitude (not your knowledge), 2) the student’s progression with independent learning, and 3) a well-chosen curriculum.

Your Math Attitude

Take a look at your personal relationship with math before you tackle it with your child. For example…

  • Are you ‘good’ at math? Great! Just make sure you have a healthy dose of empathy if your child struggles.
  • Are you ‘bad’ at math? Don’t worry – there are plenty of resources to help you and your student.

This is, of course, an oversimplification. The point is that you have your own unique math story that shaped you and it’s going to influence how you teach your child.

My Math Story: Math was fun until middle school when I decided that I didn’t ‘get’ it and was not encouraged to continue trying. Skip ahead to college, where I ruled out any degrees that required math. Then fast forward to my late 20’s when I returned for another degree, this time one that required math. At that point, I somehow developed the right mindset and, with the help of my math-y husband, was able to conquer and even enjoy math. End result? My math story made me determined that my children would never feel limited by a hard subject they want or need to pursue.

Once you’ve done some self-reflection, think of how you want your child to progress. While we tend to focus on one grade at a time, it’s helpful to have a sense of the big picture.

A General Framework for Teaching Math

This is the structure that I’ve used:

  • Elementary Math – This stage requires a lot of parental involvement. Have fun with it when you can, work through difficult stages together, and review frequently. Read more on homeschooling elementary math here.
  • Middle School – This is a time of transition. The student should become more independent in learning but will still need you close by. Read more on developing independent learners here.
  • High School – At this stage, you want your student to be fairly independent with learning. They can ask for help when needed but should also develop the ability to seek out additional resources (in-person or online). It’s also helpful to choose a curriculum that explains the steps to solve problems when needed. (See my recommendation for curriculum below.)

Keep in mind that this is a fluid timeline. You may be transitioning to more independence before middle school or waiting until well into high school.

Note: I’ve included a resource at the bottom of this post if you need help for a child with a math disability.

Curriculum

Here’s the progression I’ve used:

  • Primary Mathematics (for K – 6 learning)
  • Math in Focus (upper elementary/middle school)
  • Teaching Textbooks (middle school/high school)
  • Community College courses (later in high school, if appropriate)

Teaching Textbooks

If you’re searching for math curriculum, I suggest including Teaching Textbooks as an option. My children have all done well with it and so far the oldest two have transitioned to taking college math at our local community college during high school.

There are many other good choices for math curriculum out there that may appeal to you. A fairly comprehensive listing with descriptions can be found on Cathy Duffy Homeschool Reviews. Also, many websites for individual math programs show sample lessons and offer free placement tests.

Ultimately, when you look at how to homeschool high school math, I believe that the curriculum you choose is not as important as your attitude towards math and the framework you establish for learning. It may take some research and adjusting as you go along but remember that homeschooling allows you to choose a path that works best for your child to succeed. Take advantage of this and you can make it work.

Math Learning Disabilities

While writing this, I got sidetracked on how to help children with math learning disabilities. I was disappointed to see that most online resources for math learning disabilities only recommend what I think are the basics for helping anyone learn math – items like frequent review, the use of manipulatives, and exploring different learning strategies. If you know or suspect a math disability in your student, I would suggest visiting this website as a start to educate yourself and explore options for evaluation and learning.