If your child comes to you and asks you for math homework help, you may find that you are a bit perplexed. You may be in need of some help of your own. I was never good at math, but my husband was, and he got stumped recently on our daughter's third grade math homework. There is a very good reason for this, though at first we were stunned by this turn of events. She is now teaching us math. My husband is not stupid – they are simply teaching math in a different way now with different terminology that is quite foreign to us.

Math is not harder, but the system is completely different. This new system is something that is supposed to make math easier in the long run, with students having more ability to do complicated math in their head. If they need math homework help with this, unless you know how they are teaching today, you may not be of much help. Do your best to keep up with your kids and learn along with them. You can do this by looking at their homework and asking them questions. You'll pick it up quick and in turn will be able to help them.

Because I was so stumped by third grade math, I had to ask my daughter's teacher when I should do when she needs math homework help and my husband is not home to help. She told me that she understands my pain. She has to learn a few weeks ahead of the children. She was a first grade teacher and is now teaching third, and the math was a mystery to her too. She considers it part of her job to know, of course, so she spends extra hours learning so she can teach with confidence. You may have to do something similar, was her advice to me.

If you are not enough and your child is struggling with math homework at any age, your best first step is to talk to your child's teacher. Find out if they seem to be struggling with paying attention or if there are other things that may be contributing to their problems with math. You can also state that you would like to help them but that you do not feel qualified to do so. They may point you in the direction of local tutors or programs that offer math homework help or general homework help for students that are struggling with any course in any grade of schooling.

You can also see if paying a tutor or finding a program you can use at home to help them might be the best idea for getting them the math homework help that they need. There are programs out there that are designed to help students that are behind, and also to help prepare them for college entrance testing. These programs are not always cheap, but they can make a huge difference in your child's education if they seem to struggle when you know they are smarter than their test scores make them appear. Some kids just simply have learning issues that hold them back.