Encourage, Encourage, Encourage.  Don't take over for your child - doing this encourages him or her to give up easily or to ask for help when a problem becomes difficult.

Know the curriculum standards and state performance indicators.
http://tennessee.gov/education/ci/curriculum.shtml

Communication with teachers and administration is critical.  Do not wait until the end of the semester.  Be informed of your child's progress

Promote math positively.  Make math fun!  Math problems have negative connotation.

Use Homework Hotline - 298-6636

Set high expectations for your child in math.  Being "weak" in math is not hereditary.

Stay in your comfort zone.  Ask for assistance if needed.

Ask questions that guide them without telling them what to do.  Use open ended questions.  For example, what is the question asking?  How do you think you would solve this problem?  What terms do you understand or not understand.

Emphasize math vocabulary - Examples - half, divided, deposit, credit,sale, percentage, etc.

Math is everywhere - talk about it.

• Rulers - fractions.  Have your child measure several items and discuss this.

• Cooking - fractions / division.  A measuring cup is a great visual comparison of fractions.

• Currency - identification, association of amount, multiples.

• Clocks - discuss the hours and minutes, elapsed time, conversion of minutes to seconds.

• Maps - Choose two locations in the state of Tennessee and discuss distance traveled, miles per hour, and the scale that is located on the map --- what does this mean?

• Shopping - What are discounts, sales, tax, interest rates, and percentages?

• Number Sense - Count up / down, count by multiples (2, 3, 5, 10).  Take numbers apart, for example, 7 is the same as 4 and 3.

• Discuss items used in math.  For example, calendar, number of cards in a deck, numbers on a dice...

• Practice Math Facts - Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication and Division - mental math.

 

Tara Tiller
Mathematics Coordinator
Dickson County Schools
Phone: 615-740-5829
Fax: 615-441-4137
E-mail:  ttiller@dcbe.org