--- title: Will using a calculator keep my child from getting better at math? description: Should kids be allowed to use calculators? A teacher explains whether using a calculator causes students to fall behind and how to word a calculator accommodation. slug: will-using-a-calculator-prevent-my-child-from-getting-better-at-math author: Brendan Hodnett, MA published: '2019-08-05T15:54:24.520Z' thumbnail: https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/2wZ7I3e4abileIZxQdEYBT/5678f1c55a491df7b32dbdc6cbc33fe5/G705003945.jpg source_url: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/will-using-a-calculator-prevent-my-child-from-getting-better-at-math lang: en --- # Will using a calculator keep my child from getting better at math? **Q. ****My 10-year-old was told he can use a calculator at school. Won’t that make him fall further behind in math? What about at home? Should I let him use it there, too?** **A. **Many families have questions about when or if kids should use a calculator. That's especially true if their child struggles with math. Even if the school approved using a calculator as a support tool (also called an accommodation), they still worry it will keep their child from getting better at math. In fact, it’s the opposite. When kids struggle with basic math, it slows them down in class and on homework. It also puts up a roadblock to learning more advanced math concepts. A calculator is a support that helps bridge this gap. It lets students continue to work on the same things their classmates are working on. But that doesn’t mean a calculator should be allowed in every situation. When kids are practicing or being graded on doing an operation, they need to understand the process and show it step by step. So in this case, for kids who get formal supports, I’d word the accommodation this way: “The calculator should be available for support unless the operation is the objective.” Here’s an example. If kids are learning to multiply three-digit numbers, they wouldn't use a calculator for support. Instead they can refer to a multiplication chart for basic math facts. That way, they still show they understand the step-by-step procedure. But say a middle-schooler needs to solve for the area of two-dimensional shapes. In that case, a calculator *should* be available. The teacher is looking to see if students know the correct way to solve for area, not if they know their multiplication facts. A calculator doesn’t take the place of learning. Kids need to continue to learn and practice math operations without it, too. This should be done in low-stress, non-timed situations, like small group instruction. That way, the focus is on progress, not on grades or finishing the task. When you practice at home, start with facts your child has mastered. (Operations with 2s, 5s, and 10s are usually easiest.) That can help kids feel more confident when they move on to harder numbers. If your child is working on homework that requires calculations, try offering tools like a multiplication chart, a [number line](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/teacher-tip-use-number-lines-to-help-kids-compare-fractions), or a 100s chart. Struggling with basic math skills can be very stressful for kids. Getting the right type of support at the right time lets them work on skills without too much stress. And that can boost confidence. --- Do you have a struggling math student? Find out [why some kids have trouble with math](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/understanding-your-childs-trouble-with-math). --- ## Explore related topics and articles - [5 self-advocacy sentence starters for middle-schoolers with dyscalculia](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/dyscalculia-self-advocacy-sentence-starters-middle-school) - Its important for middle-schoolers with dyscalculia to learn how to self-advocate and ask for help. But kids this age may be self-conscious about speaking up. They also may not know what to say. Practicing common situations like these with your child can help. 1. I have an accommodation in place for - [Kids struggling with math? It could be dyscalculia](https://www.understood.org/en/podcasts/the-opportunity-gap/what-is-dyscalculia-podcast) - Dyscalculia makes it hard for kids to understand numbers. Learn how this learning disability affects learning and what supports can help. Some kids work hard in math but still struggle to keep up. Even with extra practice, the numbers just dont click. This might be a sign of dyscalculia, a learni - [My child was just diagnosed with dyscalculia. Now what?](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/my-child-was-just-diagnosed-with-dyscalculia-now-what) - Here’s how to help your child with dyscalculia succeed in school and in life. --- ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/will-using-a-calculator-prevent-my-child-from-getting-better-at-math#webpage","url":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/will-using-a-calculator-prevent-my-child-from-getting-better-at-math","description":"Should kids be allowed to use calculators? 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