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Inkandescent Kids Story of the Day

When a child struggles with math, most of us assume the problem is math

A Note from the InkandescentKids editors: If it’s Friday, it’s time for our weekly spotlight on HomeschoolOT founder Sarah Collins, who will be sharing her insights with us. See our first post below, and be sure to follow Sarah at homeschoolot.com.

A Note from Sarah: This topic was inspired by a recent conversation on The OT is IN podcast with speech-language pathologist Amanda Owens. If you’d like to dive deeper into the connection between language, reading, writing, and even math, click here to listen to the podcast and here to watch on YouTube.

WikiMedia Source: Math

By Sarah Collins, MSOT, OTR/L

When a child struggles with math, most of us assume the problem is math.

Sometimes that’s true.

But sometimes the challenge is hiding somewhere else.

Consider a word problem.

Before a child ever solves the equation, they must read the words, understand the vocabulary, follow the sequence of information, determine what the question is asking, and hold all of that information in working memory.

That’s a lot more than math.

The same thing happens across subjects.

A child may understand a science concept but struggle to explain it.

They may know the answer in history but have trouble writing it down.

They may complete calculations correctly but become overwhelmed when asked to show their work.

In each case, language is playing an important role.

As homeschool parents, we often think of language arts as its own subject. In reality, language supports learning in every subject we teach.

This is one reason I love narration.

Narration is not simply retelling a story. It is the process of organizing thoughts and communicating understanding. Children narrate when they explain a science experiment, describe a historical event, summarize a chapter, or talk through the steps of a math problem.

When we ask a child to “show their work,” we are often asking them to narrate their thinking.

That’s why narration can be such a powerful window into learning. It helps us see not only what a child knows, but also how they organize, process, and communicate that knowledge.

When a child struggles academically, it can be tempting to focus only on the subject itself.

Instead, consider asking a different question:

What skills are supporting this task?

The answer may reveal opportunities for growth that have very little to do with the curriculum and everything to do with how your child learns.

Sarah Collins, founder of HomeschoolOT

About Sarah Collins, MSOT, OTR/L, occupational therapist, homeschool mom, author, and founder of HomeschoolOT: With more than 17 years of experience supporting children and families, she helps parents understand how learning, movement, sensory processing, executive functioning, and daily life skills work together.

Since beginning her own homeschool journey in 2017, Sarah has combined her professional expertise with real-life experience to help families create learning environments that honor each child’s unique strengths and challenges. Through HomeschoolOT and The OT is IN podcast, she shares practical strategies that help parents move beyond curriculum choices and better understand how their children learn best.

The OT is IN!

Sarah believes that homeschooling is not about recreating school at home. It is about helping children grow into capable, confident learners while building strong family relationships along the way.

Learn more: homeschoolot.com