Math for Parents

Tim Whiteford PhD

There are many ways children can learn math at home. As parents, we can help children become aware of the ways math can be used as a tool to help us in our lives, as a form of art, and as a source of amusement and interest. 

"Learning at Home":  what used to be called "Homework". 

Topic Grade level focus Guiding question
Number Sense and 
Counting.
K - 2

 

Learning how to count with meaning. How do we know when a child understands how to count? 
Place value/Base10 1 - 3

Learning our base ten number system. What does place value really mean?       

Addition/Subtraction. K - 3

There’s more to these ideas than meets the eye. What are the concepts of addition and subtraction?

Multiplication and 
                  division.  

3 - 5

What is the relationship between multiplication and division, and problem solving? 

Problem Solving. K - 5

What are problem solving strategies and how do they relate to the Portfolio process?     

Fractions   2 - 5

What do children need to know to understand how to work with fractions?  

  Decimals 
       
 3 - 5 Decimals are  another way of thinking about  fractions?
Measurement      K - 5 All measurement is comparison?

        Here are some math related links for parents. 

Cable in the Classroom
 TV programs with a math related theme
No Child Left Behind 
 Federal government information about math education.
FAQs about Math Education

Another Department of Education information site. 

Adding It Up What research says about learning mathematics. Discovery.com Ideas for learning at home