|
| |
Handout for Family Math
Night
This is a sample handout for Family Math Night. Much
more information for parents can be found in the booklet I have also shared.
Check out the comprehensive family math
planning site.
Parents Are Their
Child's Most Important Teacher
Parents can
help their child (ren) succeed in mathematics by . . .
- Talking with your
child about his/her mathematics learning experiences at school.
- Discussing with your
child the importance of mathematics in his/her daily life and pointing out
examples of how people use mathematics in daily life.
- Providing activities
and objects that make mathematics interesting and fun at home.
- Encouraging your child
to ask questions, solve problems, and to explain his/her solutions.
- Modeling how to solve
math problems.
- Challenging your child
in his/her areas of math strengths and providing support in areas of math
weaknesses.
- Continuing to learn
mathematics with your child!
http://www.ictm.org/parents/important.html
Help Your Child See How
Mathematics is a Part of Daily Life
Parents and
other family members can influence their student's math skills. Perhaps you do
not realize it, but whenever you sort objects, read maps or schedules, compare
prices, make change, or use a calculator or calendar, you are a model of
mathematical behavior. When you measure, weigh, work with family finances, or
figure out how much wallpaper will cover a wall, you are a living textbook!
The best help
you can give your student in math is simply to make your child aware of when and
how to use math. Whenever possible, talk through activities with your child and
encourage him/her to take part in them. Think out loud, make estimates, check
them, correct mistakes, and try more than one way to solve a problem. When you
do, you provide your child with important experiences in mathematical thinking.
Here are a few
math activities that you can do with your child.
Estimation
Activities
- Young children can
estimate by using items like pencils, crayons, or parts of their own bodies.
Older children can use regular units of measurement like rulers or measuring
cups and spoons.
- Ask your child to
guess the number of items in your home. Make a list. Then count them
together. Examples may include pillows, windows. doors, chairs, and shoes.
Then compare estimates with an actual count. Make comparisons between items
to help young children understand the concepts of "more" or "less" and put
them into categories.
- Have your child
complete his/her own height and weight charts. Begin by estimating, actually
measure, and then graph the information. Keep a record over a period of
time.
Traveling
Activities
- Discuss directions
(north, south, east, and west) to give your child a sense of coordinates.
Have child use street maps to find travel routes and addresses and estimate
the time of your arrival and compare that to the actual time it took to
arrive at a given destination.
- Have competitions when
traveling. Have child count red cars or see who can find the largest number
formed by the numerals on a license plate.
- Have child practice,
record, and read the large number on license plates viewed. Find the largest
number in a given time period of travel.
Cooking/Shopping Activities
- Let child help with
the cooking by measuring the ingredients and checking cooking times and
temperatures. Older children can increase or decrease recipes.
- Have child figure out
how to cut a pizza, cake, pie, or sandwich for different numbers of people.
- Have child determine
how much or how many of a grocery item is needed for the entire family, or
how much is needed for a given recipe.
Parent Tips for Helping
with Homework
Parents can . .
.
- Set aside a regularly
scheduled time for your child to complete his/her homework
- Provide a quiet
environment for your child to work
- Be positive about your
child's efforts
- Offer guidance, NOT
solutions
- Help your child
explain what is being asked
- Have your child "tell
a story" that illustrates the problem
|