Math

We are blessed to have very bright mathematicians this year! Try to keep their minds challenged and encourage them to refine their problem-solving skills.

Here is the opening routine we follow each week at school. All of these activities are designed to create a well-rounded mathematician who can explain their thinking and apply math skills in a variety of situations. This can serve as a guide for how to organize your week.

1. Make-it Monday : Students find as many different ways to make a number as they can think of in about 10 minutes. We left off on the number 123. They can add, subtract, multiply, divide, draw, express it with money, spell it, etc. We use a dry erase sheet to record our answers, but any paper will do. Ask them to explain the ways they made it.

2. Talk-it Tuesday : This is where I give students a math problem to solve, an equation to check, or a quantity to count and then I ask students to share how they would find the answer or count the quantity. For example, take a deck of cards and draw 2 cards off the top of the deck. Ask students how they would count to determine the total of the two cards. Is there more than one way to count it? Can they think of a double or a double plus one to figure it out? Maybe they count by 2s or 5s to find the total. This exercise is all about thinking out loud and sharing your thought process with your kids while they share with you.

3. Word Problem Wednesday: We usually complete this in our writing journal. I give them a simple word problem to copy, illustrate, and solve. I'll post a recommended problem each week. They can express the answer with a number sentence, number bond, and in a written sentence. Teach them to answer the question by first restating it in the answer. I usually gives the kids a treat for finishing the whole problem.

4. Think-it Thursday: This is our math puzzle day. I love throwing out puzzles to the kids and watching them try to think through a complicated problem. I search the internet for simple math puzzles, first grade math puzzles, or geometry puzzles. Sudoku is an example of a math puzzle that you could work on with your child.

5. Fun Friday: Warm up your math skills with a game involving numbers. Playing games like Rummikub, Yahtzee, or Uno is a good way to allow your child to apply their mathematical reasoning skills while having fun. You can find grade level specific math games on the internet as well. Playing store or getting your child to use a cash register and money is also a good way to have fun with math. Cooking with your child and having them follow a recipe is also a fun way to apply math skills. Be creative and have fun!