Mathematics

The Farmington mathematics program focuses on developing students’ skills in many areas of mathematics. By studying the underlying structure and relationship of numbers and operations students learn to compute, estimate and solve mathematical problems in meaningful ways and through play. Instruction emphasizes problem solving strategies and reasoning as students arrive at and justify mathematical solutions. Students also make connections among mathematical concepts to strengthen and further their understanding. Another key focus of the kindergarten program is the development of numerical understanding by means of manipulating, counting, and comparing sets. Concepts and skills are presented and explored using concrete materials, hands-on activities, language arts strategies, and visual representations. By the end of the year, students are solving addition and subtraction stories and representing them with numbers and symbols.

For more information visit: Farmington Public Schools K6 Mathematics Website 

Here's a list of additional ways parents can support their child in math:

• Practice basic skills: Help your child practice counting forwards and backwards, recognizing numbers, and understanding number sequences.

• Use manipulatives: Use physical objects like blocks, buttons, or coins to help your child visualize and understand basic math concepts like counting, 1:1 correspondence, adding, and subtracting.

• Play math games: Incorporate math into games like board games (e.g., counting spaces) or card games (e.g., number recognition).

• Daily math talk: Discuss math concepts casually during daily activities, such as counting items at the grocery store, measuring ingredients for cooking, or talking about time and schedules.

• Math stories: Read books that involve math concepts, such as counting books or stories that incorporate patterns and shapes.

• Use everyday objects: Show how math is used in everyday life, such as measuring ingredients for recipes, calculating change at the store, or sorting items by size, shape, or color.

• Practice number writing: Help your child practice writing numbers with correct number formation (top to bottom, left to right).

• Encourage problem-solving: Present your child with simple math problems and encourage them to find solutions using their own methods and strategies.

• Praise effort: Celebrate your child's efforts in math, whether they solve a problem independently, understand a new concept, or persist through a challenging task.

• Explore patterns and shapes: Help your child recognize and create patterns (e.g., color patterns, shape patterns) and identify basic geometric shapes in their environment.

• Math vocabulary: Introduce and use math vocabulary words (e.g., add, subtract, equal, greater than, less than) in everyday conversations and activities.

• Set realistic goals: Work with your child to set achievable math-related goals, such as learning to count to 100 or mastering basic addition and subtraction facts.

• Connect math to their interests: Find ways to incorporate your child's interests into math activities, such as using sports statistics for math problems or measuring toys in creative play.

By integrating these activities into daily routines and interactions, parents can help build their child's confidence and enthusiasm for math, setting a strong foundation for future learning in mathematics.

From the FPS K6 Mathematics Website: 

1. Talk positively about math.  Please avoid saying,"I'm just not good at math." 

2. Talk about math whenever you can.  For example, you and your child are shopping.  Have them round the items you are purchasing to the nearest dollar.  Have them add these rounded numbers to get a total. More examples include: paying bills, keeping a checkbook, buying presents, cooking with recipes, playing musical instruments, measuring during projects, etc.

3. Encourageyour child when they are challenged by math.  Little successes lead to increased confidence.  Increased confidence leads to more risk-taking in math.  More risk-taking leads to accepting more challenging problems, which leads to greater confidence and greater understanding.

4. When your child is having difficulty with homework, have him/her read the problem out loud to you. Ask him/her to identify exactly what the question is asking.  Help start the problem. Tell them to show something so the teacher knows there has been effort. Have your child prepare a specific question to ask the teacher.

5. Play games in the car.  You can do something simple like practice multiplication facts.  Or, you could learn a game like "buzz" that connects to multiplication tables.

6. Help your child develop a growth mindset.  Praise  effort and risk-taking, not just results.  If you child is struggling through a problem, suggest that he/she tries a different strategy.  Effort does not always mean trying harder but trying something different.

For families looking to provide additional support or challenge at home, the following resources are available:

• FPS K-6 Mathematics Website - provides links for online and app resources