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Learning Center Newsletter

How to Support Childrens

Mathematical Thinking at Home

Issue #13 Week of Dec 8-12, 2014

Ideas for parents with students in kindergarten:

Practice counting out loud by 1s and 10s.

I am a member of the math department at Reed school.

The math department is a group of teachers at the
school that meet regularly to discuss and explore the
math curriculum, teaching and mathematical progression
at the school. This week the math department at Reed
presented an overview of the math curriculum to the
school board. This presentation has also been
scheduled for today- Friday, Dec. 12. Parents will have
the opportunity to observe math classes for each grade.

Say a number and your child can keep counting.

Sing counting songs and chant numbers.

Practice counting objects with your child.

Compare the size of objects with your child.

Play dice or domino games with child.

The math instruction that is provided to students with

IEP goals in math, support and enhance the instruction
provided in the classroom while providing additional
practice in the mathematical concepts.

Cut up old calendars and let your child arrange the

numbers 1 to 30 in order.

Talk about your day with your child and ask what
we will do first, second, third, fourth and last

Make up math stories (i.e. there are 4 forks on the

table. One falls on the floor. How many forks are left
on the table?)

Go on a shape hunt and find shapes in the house.

Draw basic shapes for your child to cut out and put
together in different shapes.

Play I Spy with your child.

Sort household items; i.e. all shoes by type of

closure (buckle, Velcro, tie, slip on or color) and
discuss.

In this newsletter, I will share ways that parents can

support mathematical thinking at home and an overview
of each grade levels standards. Much of the information
I am providing comes from the Monterey Bay Area Math
Project.
When parents play a positive role in their childrens
education, children do better in school. A major benefit
of parent involvement includes increased mathematical
understanding, positive attitudes and behavior.

You can help by asking questions that guide

your children without telling them what to do
(What do you know? What do you need to find
out? What do you think you should do first?)

Share an enjoyment of math. Avoid talking

about math in negative ways or letting them
know you did poorly in math. Instead show an
attitude of curiosity towards the math your child
is learning.

Cook and discuss measurements.

Point to days of the week on a calendar.

When you talk about the time of the day, help your
child notice where the sun and moon is located.

Let your child in on your thinking. It will help

your child explain his/her own things as they see
and hear you do math. Example: count out loud
when digging in a pocket for change at the cash
register.

Play board games that involve counting (i.e. Chutes

and Ladders) with your child.

Know the standards that are being addressed in

your childs grade level.
http://www.corestandards.org/Math/Content/K/intro
duction/

Tell your child that you have confidence in his or her

ability to accomplish math skills by saying, I know
you can do this.

Be patient: mathematical understanding

develops over time. Watch for and enjoy your
childrens progress.

Learning Center Newsletter

How to Support Childrens

Mathematical Thinking at Home
By the end of first grade, students are expected to
know many things in math. They include:

Count, read and write numbers 1 to 120,

starting with any number less than 120.

Know how to use =, < and >.

Match a number symbol to the number of

objects ( + = 2).

Compare and order 2 digit numbers to 100.

Add and subtract numbers to 20 in their

head.

Tell you one more than or one less than any

number to 120.

10 more than or 10 less than any number to

120.

Count by 10s to 100

Add three numbers together

Use number sentences to match a problem

How to use +, -, and =

Compare the lengths of different objects.

Tell time by the hour and half hour.

Name squares, circles, rectangles, triangles.

Create and extend shape or number

patterns

Organize information on a graph.

Solve a problem and explain how I know it is

correct.

Use the words halves, fourths, and quarters

and the phrases half of, fourth of, and
quarter of.

Issue #13 Week of Dec 8-12, 2014

Ideas for parents with students in first grade:

Practice counting forward and backward

with your child to 120.

Keep a monthly calendar and discuss the

day, week, month, yesterday, today and
tomorrow with your child.

Keep track of family events on a calendar.

Ask your child questions such as How
many days until?

Roll two or three dice and add the numbers

together with your child.

Measure objects to the nearest inch with

your child.
Look for geometric shapes in the world with
your child.
Demonstrate probability by placing 5 white
socks and 1 black sock in a bag. Have
your child predict and record what colors
are drawn in ten tries.
Talk about your day with your child ask
what will happen first, second, third, fourth,
and last.
Use mathematical vocabulary with your
child.
Think out loud with your child as you do
things to demonstrate your thought
process and encourage your child to do the
same.

Tell your child that you have confidence in

his or her ability to accomplish math skills
by saying, I know you can do this.

Know the standards that are being

addressed in your childs grade level.
http://www.corestandards.org/Math/Conte
nt/1/introduction/

Tracey Nott tnott@reedschools.org

http://tnottrspteacher.weebly.com/

Your child may or may not be working on grade level

concepts but this newsletter was shared to give you an
overview of ways to support your child in math while at
home.

Learning Center Newsletter

How to Support Childrens

Mathematical Thinking at Home

Issue #13 Week of Dec 8-12, 2014

Ideas for parents with students in second
grade:

Play mental math strings with your child

(example: start with 2. Add 5. Subtract 3.
Add 4).

Play games with your child to help them

memorize addition and subtraction facts (i.e.
dice games, card games, dominoes, etc.).

Practice math facts with your child in short

burst (no longer than 5-10 minutes).
Collect and record data (example plant seeds
and record growth of plants).
Weigh fruits and vegetable and compare the
weights in the grocery with your child.
Have your child measure the amounts of food
when you are cooking.
Talk about your day with your child ask what
will happen first, second, third, fourth, and
last.
Look for geometric shapes in the world with
your child.
Use geometric vocabulary to tell how
Shapes are alike and different with your child.
Sort and classify stuffed animals, books,
money and household items with your child.
Have your child describe the sorting rule (size,
shape, function, etc.) used to sort items.
Provide an analog, as well as a digital clock,
and talk about time with your child.
Talk with your child about the events as being
likely or unlikely to occur.
Talk about fractions by cutting up food into
equal units.
Use mathematical vocabulary with your child.

By the end of second grade, students are expected

to know many things in math. They include:

Add and subtract to solve word problems.

Fluently add and subtract numbers to 20 in

their head.

Recall basic math facts from memory.

Select appropriate tools for measuring

length.

Measure the length of an object.

Describe to the relationship of different

length units.

Estimate lengths using inches, feet,

centimeters and meters.

Find the difference in length of two objects.

Solve word problems that involve length.

Tell time to the nearest five minutes.

Add and subtract using a number line.

Solve word problems involving money.

Use the $ and cent symbols.

Think out loud with your child as you do

things to demonstrate your thought process
and encourage your child to do the same.

Draw a picture graph.

Tell your child that you have confidence in his

or her ability to accomplish math skills by
saying, I know you can do this.

Draw a bar graph and solve problems using the

bar graph.

Know the standards that are being addressed

in your childs grade level.
http://www.corestandards.org/Math/Content/
2/introduction/

Tracey Nott tnott@reedschools.org

http://tnottrspteacher.weebly.com/

Identify and draw shapes based on attributes.

Partition rectangles into rows and columns of

same size and count the total

Divide circles & rectangles into equal parts.

Describe equal parts as part of whole.

Recognize equal shares of identical shapes do

not have to be the same shape.

Your child may or may not be working on grade

level concepts but this newsletter was shared to
give you an overview of ways to support your
child in math while at home.