|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
  | | Description |
|---|
| Home - School Math Connections | Often teachers are approached by parents who are eager to help their children learn mathematics. We suggest you consider Van de Walle’s model of having children understand mathematics as it relates to their own world. John Van de Walle, states that “We use ideas we already have to construct a new idea , developing in the process a network of connections between ideas. The more ideas used and the more connections made, the better we understand.” (Van de Walle p. 27). Though problem solving students are encouraged to persevere, developing their own algorithms as well as independent reasoning skills.
As teachers and parents, we need to help students construct different understandings rather than procedures. Encourage students to understand problems. Knowing that 10x12=120 is very different than understanding why. Take every opportunity to ask your child why they believe they have the right answer. If they reply with a memorized process, dig further.
Math is everywhere and there are many ways that parents can help their children apply mathematical concepts. Instead of extra drill sheets, encourage them to incorporate some of the following ideas relative to your child’s age:
1. Play traditional games and activities to develop spatial sense, logic, and number skills (e.g., puzzles, games,cribbage, 21, all card games)
2. When doing laundry, have the child sort the clothes and identify the rule (e.g., colour, type of clothing, owner etc).
3. Encourage estimation whenever possible— amount of popcorn, Smarties in a handful, the number of people in church etc.. When shopping with the child, have them try to calculate/estimate the better buy between brands. As items collect in the cart, estimate the total cost and see how close you get to the actual cost. Older children can be asked to develop strategies to estimate the total number of people at larger events such as sports games.
4. Choose a favourite recipe. Try doubling it or cutting it in half to gain experience with fractions.
5. During an outing or while traveling for a longer distance, try to determine the estimated time of arrival given speed and distance. For an extra challenge, try to determine the cost of the gasoline to get there.
6. For additional information on “How I can help my child at home”, please refer to the following website:
www.curriculum.org/lms/library.html under the Family and Community section.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|