Helpful
Tips for Your Students’ Parents
Sarah Picard
Oftentimes parents want to help their children with
math homework, but aren’t quite sure how to provide support.
This is made especially difficult since the way in which math is
taught in many of today’s curriculums is different from the
curriculum used when the parents were in elementary school. When
parents ask how they can support their children’s mathematical
thinking, you can give them the following tips.
Nurture their awareness of math in the world
- Point out ways math is used in their life (paying for groceries,
measuring, counting, categorizing, telling time)
Provide your child with some tools at home
Support their independent problem solving
- When faced with a mathematical word problem for homework, encourage
your child to read the problem a few times so they understand
what the problem is really about. Sometimes the hardest part of
solving these problems is understanding the problem itself. Get
your child to read and reread the problem. Visualize the problem
and get the child to restate it in their own words.
- Ask the child to think about the best way to solve the problem.
Validate their first choice and support their independence by
providing manipulatives or tools (see list above).
- Ask them about their process while they are solving the problem
and give them the time to make a mistake. Wait before you jump
in to correct the child. If you jump in too soon, the child may
not get the chance to notice his or her mistake and correct it.
- When the child finishes solving the problem in one way, you
could talk about other ways to solve the problem and use the tools
to demonstrate how that other way works.
In late first grade and in second grade, practice one digit
math facts (addition and subtraction) at home. Concentrate on strategies
to learn the facts rather than memorization. Here
are some strategies:
Combinations of ten.
4+6, 5+5, 7+3, 8+2, 9+1
Combinations of 10 Plus 1
4+7, 5+6, 7+4, 8+3, 9+2
Combinations of 10 Minus 1
3+6, 4+5, 5+4, 7+2, 8+1
Doubles
2+2, 3+3, 4+4, etc.
Doubles Plus 1
? 2+3, 3+4, 4+5, etc.
Doubles Minus 1
2+1, 3+2, 4+3, etc.
Parental support is an important part of a child’s success
in school. Whenever we sit beside a child and take interest in their
work, we are supporting their mathematical thinking. Hopefully these
tips will help parents become active participants in their child’s
mathematical thinking development.
Do you have
suggestions or questions about this article? Send me an e-mail.
|
