Practicing at home on the skills children learn in school is vital to their success and it’s fun!
Here’s some ideas to try.

“We remember 10% of what we hear, 30% of what we see and 90% of what we do.”
- Piaget

Math is no different for our kids. Mathematical learning begins at a concrete level with real world experiences through the use of manipulatives, physical objects. Gradually, students move from this concrete level to a pictorial level. During this stage, students draw pictures and talk through the math. Finally, students develop a greater level of abstraction in mathematical thinking. They are able to use the signs and symbols of math much more effectively.

Beyond the instruction they receive in the classroom, our students need to experience math in their everyday setting. Explore math in your world. Talk about math in the world around you.

• Point out shapes, patterns, and numbers.
• Stress math in everyday activities such as cooking, sewing, or shopping.

Present a positive image of math. Talk about ways you use math at home or at work. Expect your child to be successful in math.

Help your child understand there is generally more than one way to solve a math problem.
Encourage your child to try various ways to solve problems such as draw a picture, act it out, make a list, or work backwards.

Help your child understand that math is more than just numbers. It is a way of approaching problem situations, reasoning through them, and finding solutions.

Resist the urge to correct or do the problem for the child. Say things like…

• Is your answer reasonable?
• What do you think?
• Show me how you got that answer.
• Tell me why you think your answer is correct.
  
  Keep it FUN!