Math at Moreland Hills Elementary

At Moreland Hills Elementary we strive to create partnerships between teachers and families to build a culture of thinking, applying, and problem-solving as together we grow our mathematicians.

How can you help at home?

You can ask questions.

• What do you see? What do you think about what you see? What do you wonder about what you see?

• Do you see a pattern? Can you explain the pattern?

• Can you explain what you have done so far?

• What else is there to do?

• Is there a more efficient strategy?

• Why did you decide to use this strategy?

• Can you think of another strategy that might have worked?

• Could you try it with simpler numbers? Fewer numbers?

• Would it help to use a number line? Create a diagram? Make a table? Draw a picture?

• What is happening in this problem?

• Remove the numbers at first and discuss the “story”.

You can model your thinking;

thinking aloud through a challenge or mistake.

Cook with your child.

• Wonder aloud about needing to double or half the recipe.

• What would you need to do that?

• How could you do that?

Wonder together about how many stairs you climb.

• Count them as you are walking up them.

• Try counting backwards as you are walking down.

What uses of mathematics can you find?

• in the newspaper

• online news

• tv program

Pose would you rather questions.

• Would you rather have 2 pounds of pennies or 1 pound of nickels? Why?

At bedtime, revisit your day.

• How did you use math today?

While at the store, wonder about money.

• Do you have enough money to buy an item that you want?

• If you paid with $10, how much change would you get back?

• Which is the better deal 20oz for $3.59 or 60oz for $10.00?

You can encourage a growth mind-set...a“can-do”attitude.

• Engage your child in conversation.

• Recognize that making mistakes is a normal and necessary part of learning.

• Focus on learning and not as much on getting the “right” answer.

• Be curious and have fun with math.

When your child is stuck, you can encourage.

• Don’t give up and try new strategies if something doesn’t work

• Remind your child that everyone has failed/made a mistake, even the best of the best and that’s how they learned to do things better.

• Make connections to other math ideas where your child feels successful.

When your child is stuck, you can ask …

• What do you already know? What do you need to find out?

• What is happening in this problem?

• What do you know that is not stated in the problem?

• How have you worked through other problems like this one?

• Would it help to draw a picture? Use a number line? Make a table? Create a diagram?