In the Kitchen:  

• Cooking and baking are natural ways to explore estimation, measurement, and fractions.  Encourage your child to double a recipe or measure 1 cup of something using the 1/2 or 1/3 measuring cups.

In the Yard:  

• Gardening affords students opportunities to expand their geometry and measurement concepts.  Calculate area and perimeter to construct a garden patch.  Measure distance needed  between plants and vegetables.  Collect data and track plant growth using graphs or a calendar.  Use the sun to estimate the time of day and compare it to the time on an analog clock.

In the Pool/On a Walk:  

• Count laps, calculate swimmer's total distance, time swimmers, measure the distance of dives, find the area and volume of the pool.  Recognize shapes within the pool area.

• Count steps, estimate how many steps to a landmark, find math in nature, practice facts using your walking cadence, ask   questions: "What if I doubled my speed?"  "What if my stride was half of what I am walking?  Double what I am walking?"

At an Activity:  

• Miniature golf, baseball game, soccer field, or the basketball court all present opportunities for students to learn more about geometry and angles.  Practice using the golf obstacles, batting stance, leg/ankle position or the backboard to make the ball go to its desired location.  Sports are also great at practicing fractions, decimals, and percentages!  Track runs batted in, yardage ran, win/loss records and turn them into relatable real world fractions!

In the Car:  

• Practice those math facts!  Use signs, license plates, billboards to keep your children busy while learning.  For example:  

  • • • Determine the start number and/or the rule (e.g., the speed limit is 65, start at 65 and add/subtract 10 and or 100.  They love big numbers and learning these patterns!

      • Speed limit 65?  Add, subtract, or multiply the 6 and the 5 and any other sets of numbers they may see.  Whoever gets to 100 first wins!  

      • If the exit number is 3, practice the 3 times table. 

• Teach your child about rates.  We are driving 60 miles and hour and we need to get to grandma's house which is 120 miles away (or 2 hours, etc.)  

Family Game Night:  

• There are numerous math games that can be enjoyed by children and adults of all ages.  In fact, there are so many, it is easier and more current to do an internet search, though some of my favorites are listed below.  Try searching for:

  • • • Math Dice Games

      • Math Card Games

      • Family Math Games

Tang Math:  Tang Math has free games that help students  decompose and compose math facts, which are  useful skills as students develop in their calculation abilities.  It also uses games to develop number sense  and conceptual understanding. Great for kids who struggle with memorization.  Be sure to try "Kakooma" and his Learning Games.  Tang Math is also available on Classlink.

Xtra Math:  Most students have school accounts to this math fact program that focuses on fluency (though parents can choose to make their own home account for their child if they choose).  Use Classlink to access your child's school account.

Freckle:  Each child has a school account that can be accessed at home through "Home Connect" in Classlink.  Students will automatically be placed in the Math lesson that is leveled for their learning needs.  

ABCYA:  Just search for the facts and or skill you want to practice.  This rich resource also houses many other math concepts.  Be sure to check out "Math Bingo," "Clear It," and "Math Lines."

Math Playground:  This is another excellent resource that allows the user to search any area they need to practice.  Includes basic facts and other math concepts.  Be sure to check out "Product Blocks," "Multiplication Blocks," and "Number Trails."

YouCubed:  YouCubed provides rich and creative math concept exploration through tasks. These are designed for learners at home.

Prodigy:  Prodigy has content in all major topics in a game format.   Some classrooms may have student accounts set up.  Please check with your child or teacher.

Mr. Nussbaum:   Interactive games specifically designed to pinpoint one or several essential math concepts.  

Bedtime Math:   Bedtime Math sends parents a fun, new math problem every day, on everything from electric eels and chocolate chips to roller coasters and flamingoes. Targeted for kids ages 3-9, it begins with a short, fun set-up story, followed by three math problems at three levels of challenge. 

New and effective math websites are created every day.  

Simply search for the concept, standard, or skill you wish your child to learn.

Dice and Card Games for Fact Practice  

5 Math Games You Can Play to Make Practice Fun

Games to Play with a Deck of Cards

Montessori  Numbers and/or Geometry:  Great application for understanding numbers, the quantity they each stand for, their relationship to one another, and how numbers are physically formed (Grades 1 and 2)

Splash Math:  This is an all ages math app in which kids can practice adding, subtracting, measuring and basic geometry. It is aligned with the Common Core and send parents progress reports! 

Khan Academy Kids:  KAK is an-offshoot to the very successful Khan Academy. The app will give kids the opportunity to play games and build pre-math skills. It is a very high quality app receives high marks.

Animal Math:  Animal Math offers math apps for several age groups all on the theme of animals. Silly pets like Ralphie the Cat and Oleg the Owl helps kids along the way as they learn basic math skills. App covers number recognition, counting, addition, subtraction, basic shapes and is aligned with Common Core. 

Pizza Fractions:  Yes! We are talking pizza. This is a great way for kids to visually see how fractions break down with a familiar item. Times exercises. 

Math Learning Center:  Math Learning Center have a vast array of mathematics subjects for the elementary age student. Fractions, number frames, money, number lines, patterns, and so much more. This is an app that can move along with your student as he/she goes through the school year.  

Prodigy:  This app is for children in grades 1 through 6. They will earn in-game badges and work at their own pace in a Common Core aligned curriculum. There is an option to buy a Premium membership 

New and effective math apps are created every day.  

Simply search for the concept, standard, or skill you wish your child to learn.