Math homework hard, confusing to parents: Survey

How’s the math and science homework going?

Not so great for parents of children with the London District Catholic school board.

Two in five say they are confused trying to help their kids with homework.

Almost 40 per cent of 1,600 parents who responded to a parent involvement committee (PIC) survey reported they experienced “challenges or difficulties” helping their children with their homework. Parents ranked mathematics the most difficult, followed by French, science and technology.

Twenty-eight per cent of parents said they didn’t understand the homework. Other reasons included lack of time, competing priorities, as well as feeling stressed, the report said.

The voluntary anonymous survey conducted in the fall of 2022 was designed to “collect the views, feedback and suggestions from parents and guardians to inform parent information sessions.”

Almost 70 per cent of Catholic parents who responded to the survey reported that their “children feel successful at school. Nearly two-thirds (64 per cent) believe they get the required support and 55 per cent believe they can get extra help.

The majority of parents who responded to the survey said they would like to take part in parent information sessions.

Topics in which parents expressed interest included math and numeracy, mental health and well-being, self-regulation, literacy, managing stress, time management and destreaming the high school curriculum, the report said.

Parents suggested enhanced communication, tutoring, math, reading supports and mental health resources “would help them support their child’s learning.”

Stephanie Circelli, superintendent of education at the London District Catholic board, said the parent involvement committee will use the results of the survey to provide resources to parent councils and parents across the region.

“We’re preparing some engagement sessions around the math in particular,” she said. “We’re working with TVO Mathify to come in and do some hands-on sessions with parents. We’re also doing some activities around parent engagement to get parents to become more involved with their children’s academics and wellbeing at school.

“We want to work with them to support their child’s learning.”

Other subjects noted by parents as challenging “often or always” included social studies, religion, family life, native languages, the arts and health and physical education, the report said.

Bill Tucker, a professor in the education faculty at Western University and a former Thames Valley director of education, said the curriculum is complex and lessons and concepts are being taught earlier than when parents were in school.

“In terms of parents helping their children with STEM-related (science, technology, engineering math) homework, as a former Grade 8 teacher, yes, this has always been a challenge for many parents,” he said. “My advice to parents is, if there are concerns, connect with their child’s subject teacher.”

Many teachers also provide websites where parents can log on and see lessons that have been taught in class, Tucker said.

“There are also great websites online that provide step-by-step instructions for some of the concepts taught that parents can easily access,” he said. “Classroom teachers often have excellent resource material that I know they’d copy and share with parents as well.”

Parent concerns about homework are also an issue in the Thames Valley District school board.

“We have heard parent concerns about how to help with school work for years, due to many reasons,” the Thames Valley council of home and school associations said. “A common comment is that it is taught differently now and parents don’t understand the new way. There is also lack of time, but we also hear concerns about not knowing what exactly to help with, stemming from lack of communication and lack of work being sent home.”

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London District Catholic school board survey by the numbers:

Parents of elementary children: 1,319

Parents of children in secondary: 278