How to Help Your Child Succeed in Algebra Without a Tutor

Dane Ehlert
Jul 14
2 min read

Because you don’t need a math degree to make a big difference.

If you're a parent staring down the barrel of Algebra 1, you're not alone.

Every year, thousands of families wrestle with this milestone course—and not just the students. Parents often feel helpless, frustrated, or guilty because they don’t remember the math or don’t know how to help.

The good news?

You can help your child succeed in Algebra—without hiring a private tutor.

Here’s how:

✅1. Change How You Define "Helping"

Helping doesn’t mean you need to solve every problem. It means:

Offering structure
Checking in regularly
Supporting their effort over outcomes

Let your child know it’s okay to struggle and that you're in their corner.

✅ 2. Choose the Right Online Tools (Not Just Any Video)

Random YouTube videos can be confusing, inconsistent, and misaligned with what your child is learning. AI tools like ChatGPT can help—but they’re no substitute for a real learning path.

Look for tools that:

Build concepts step-by-step
Use visuals and plain language
Offer guided practice (not just lectures)

➡️ That’s exactly why we built When Math Happens: Online Algebra courses designed for parents and students—especially if math was never your thing.

✅ 3. Focus on Understanding, Not Just Getting the Right Answer

It’s tempting to rush through homework or rely on solutions to speed things up. But true Algebra success depends on understanding concepts, not just memorizing steps.

Ask your child:

“Why do you think that works?”
“What’s the first thing we should do here?”
“Can we try drawing this out?”

This helps build the reasoning skills that Algebra is all about.

✅ 4. Don’t Wait Until They're Struggling

One of the biggest mistakes parents make is waiting for a failing grade before stepping in.

If you know Algebra 1 is coming up—or your child is already in it—start support early:

Watch videos together
Preview upcoming topics
Celebrate wins, no matter how small

Consistency over time beats panic tutoring later.

✅ 5. Make It Okay to Be Wrong

Math anxiety can be paralyzing—especially when kids feel like getting a wrong answer means they’re “bad at math.” Help reframe mistakes as part of learning.

Try saying:

“Let’s figure it out together.”
“I didn’t get it at first either.”
“Mistakes show us what to focus on.”

This mindset shift might be the most important support you give.

🎯 Final Thoughts: You’re More Powerful Than You Think

You don’t need to be a tutor to make a difference.

You just need tools that:

Empower you to guide your child
Respect your time
Don’t make you feel dumb for asking questions

That’s why we created When Math Happens: A complete Algebra 1 (and Geometry) online course designed specifically for families.

💻 Step-by-step videos

✏️ Practice that builds confidence

🧠 A course that works for real life, not just math classrooms

👉 Explore our parent-friendly math courses at WhenMathHappens.com

📬 Have questions? We’re here to support you.

You’ve got this—and we’ve got you.