Parents

We Are All Mathematicians!

As a parent you use math throughout the day.  You may use it at work, home and while playing with your children.  Here are some suggestions as to how you can support your child with developing the belief that we all are mathematicians!

• Play games and puzzles that use complex thinking strategies!

Minecraft, Tetras, Chess, Lego, Settlers of Catan, Battleship, Sudoku 

• Practice number sense at home in daily life

Estimate quantities of food and cooking ingredients, distances, costs, change from purchases, time to wait until dinner, amounts of any kind

• Choose your words carefully 

AVOID:

“I wasn’t good at math either…I guess you’re not a math person…”  

INSTEAD:

“I believe you can do this…...You don’t understand it yet, but you will…..When it seems hard, that means your brain is growing, especially when you make mistakes….keep at it….”

Homework--Put the thinking back on your child!

What problem like this did you do  in school?

How do you think you could start?

What picture or diagram can you make that would help you?

What does the example show you?

Hmm, let’s think about this….

Sticking with a problem is important in math...