Hi Reader,

BBQ season might be over for most of us, but if you know me, you know that I don’t follow the rules…especially when it comes to condiments.

Case in point: I take my hot dogs with ketchup, mustard, pickles, and…lettuce. Yum!

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Want to know something wild? Beyond BBQ season, ketchup, mustard, and pickles can make your kiddos’ math (or any subject!) homework more fun. Here’s how:

Categorize math homework like this with your kid.

Ketchup: Work they need to catch up on. (Get it?!) Think: a missing assignment or worksheets done during class when your child was out for a day.

Mustard: Work they must do. (You see where I’m going with this, Reader?) Mustards are big, needle-moving assignments like a missed quiz, final project, or test retake. These are things that must get done in order to raise or keep a grade where you want it.

Pickles: Who doesn’t love pickles? These are things your child gets to pick to do. For example, if their grades are great and there are no ketchups or mustards, let them pick to play Fortnite (or whatever hobby they’re into). Want to keep it academic? Have them pick a fun math practice activity (like this fun wintery fraction review sheet) or a math app game.

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The first few times, help your child figure out what type of work goes into each category. Then watch as they use this system to independently determine what they should be working on.

Even older kids get a kick out of this – promise it’ll change the way they think about school work!

So give it a shot! Next time your kid sits down at the kitchen table to do their homework, just holler, “Ketchup, mustard, or pickles!” and watch how they get excited about what they need to do. Hot dogs always welcome.

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To BBQ-ing all year round,

Heidi

P.S. No need for fraction review? Reply to this email and let me know what your child needs to work on, and I’ll turn that into a fun winter activity for whatever math topic you need!

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Hi, I'm Heidi! 18 years in the education world taught me it's time to do math differently. I'm here to help you shake math up; everyone can do math with confidence! When I'm not doing math, I love doing anything outside, traveling, puzzling, gardening, and cooking. Spending time with my pack-my 2 kids and partner- fills my cup with joy, too!