Top 7 Ways to Help Your Child in Mathematics
1. Create a Homework Routine: Familiar routines help work go smoothly at
school and at home.
2. Read Family Letters and Home Links: These pages describe what your child is
learning so that you can help.
3. Ask you Child to Explain: Encourage your child to teach you the day’s math
lesson using the problems in the Home Links.
4. Use Questions to Help: Although it is tempting to give children answers
when they are confused, they learn more if you help them discover the answers
for themselves.
5. Be Accepting of Mistakes: Let your child know that every mistake is an
opportunity to learn.
6. Play Math Games; Games your child brings home from school or store-bought
games that involve mathematical thinking will help your child master skills.
7. Share Real-Life Math Situations: Think about the ways you use math in your
everyday life.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How will children practice and learn basic facts?
Children will learn and practice all the basic facts in many different
ways without having to complete an overwhelming number of drill pages. They
will play mathematics games, work with Fact Triangles, and take part in short
oral drills to review facts as a group. Children also use Addition/Subtraction
Fact Tables to practice facts and keep a record of the facts they have learned.
Why are children using calculators? Will they become dependent on the
calculator for solving problems?
In Everyday Math children use calculators to learn concepts, recognize
patterns, develop estimation skills and explore problem solving. They learn
that a calculator can help them solve problems beyond their current paper-and
-pencil capabilities.; they also learn that in some situations they can use
their own problem-solving abilities to get the answer more quickly then they
can with a calculator. Children learn to use their basic fact and operations
knowledge and estimation skills to decide whether the calculator's solution is
reasonable. Children do not become dependent on the calculator. Instead they
become comfortable and skilled users of a practical technological tool.
Why do children play games during math lessons?
Everyday Math games reinforce concepts in a valuable and enjoyable way.
They are designed to help children practice their basic facts and computation
skills and develop increasingly sophisticated strategies. For example, some
games give children experience using a calculator, while other games emphasize
the relationship between the money system and place value. Games also lay the
foundation for learning increasingly difficult concepts.
My child has special needs. How does the program address learning differences?
Everyday Math offers many opportunities for teachers to meet the varying
needs of each child. The program is flexible-that is, it is possible to adjust
or modify most activities according to children's needs and teachers may
include addition activities for the purpose of fine-tuning concept, providing
extra practice, or helping a child with a particular learning style. Lessons
involve many open-ended activities that allow children to succeed at their own
skill levels.
How will children with advanced math skills be challenged?
Everyday Math is designed to move children beyond basic arithmetic and
nurture their higher-order and critical-thinking skills. Many children who
have mastered basic facts and certain methods of computation will be
challenged to apply these skills to solving everyday, real-world problems.
Because teachers use questions to stimulate thinking and drive discussions,
mathematically gifted children are challenged to think flexibly, articulate
their understandings and explain problem-solving strategies to their classmates.
Why does my child have to move on to the next lesson if he or she hasn't
mastered skills in the current lesson?
Everyday Math is based on the idea that mastery of mathematics concepts and
skills comes with repeated exposure and practice, not after just one lesson.
To help children develop mastery, mathematical topics are introduced in an
informal way, and then presented numerous times in different contexts with
gradually more formal, directed instruction.
