Thanksgiving and winter break are great for family time. They can also be rough on algebra.
Math builds on itself, so a few weeks away from solving equations is enough for steps to get fuzzy. A student who was doing fine in early November can come back in January and freeze on problems they knew how to do before the break. For Algebra 1 students that timing is tricky, because January is when a lot of new material starts piling up before the spring EOC.
The good news is that keeping skills fresh doesn’t take hours of worksheets. A little practice, spread out over the break, goes a long way. Here’s how to do it without ruining anyone’s holiday.
6 ways to keep algebra fresh over the break
1. Aim for 15 minutes, a few times a week
You don’t need a daily schedule. Three or four short sessions a week is enough to keep the steps in their head. Pick a time that’s easy to stick to, like right after breakfast, before screens go on.
2. Review before you preview
The break isn’t the time to rush ahead to new chapters. Go back to what they learned this fall: solving equations, working with negative numbers, fractions, and graphing lines. If those are solid, January will feel a lot easier.
3. Cook something together
Thanksgiving is full of math. Have your child double a recipe, cut one in half, or figure out how many pies you need for 14 guests if each pie serves 8. That’s ratios and equations, and they get to eat the result.
4. Let them teach you
Ask your child to explain one problem to you, step by step. If they can teach it, they really know it. If they get stuck halfway, you just found the gap to work on.
5. Keep one page of notes handy
A one-page cheat sheet with the main rules and formulas makes practice faster and less stressful. Tape it inside a notebook or on the fridge so it’s there whenever they need it.
6. Do a warm-up the week before school starts
The last few days of winter break are the best time for a short review. Two or three sessions that week help your child walk into January ready, instead of spending the first week remembering what they forgot.
Get our free Algebra 1 cheat sheet
We put together a two-page Algebra 1 cheat sheet with the rules and formulas students use the most. It’s free when you join the 321 Tutoring newsletter, and it’s perfect for tip #5.
Sign up and download the cheat sheet
If your child needs more than a refresher, our Algebra Program was made for middle schoolers getting ready for the Algebra 1 EOC, and it works great for homeschool families:
- Get Started Algebra Practice ($25, lifetime access): practice worksheets made by our tutors, plus a discount on 1:1 tutoring
- Complete Algebra Program ($199, lifetime access): all the worksheets, video lessons and the full self-paced course, plus a tutoring discount
- Algebra On Demand ($100/month): weekly office hours with a live tutor
Enjoy the holidays, and happy solving!