Math Information
HOW CAN
I HELP MY CHILD REACH THE MATHEMATICS
STANDARDS?
- Expect your child to succeed and be sure that he or she
understands that expectation.
- Share with your child a positive attitude toward mathematics.
- Point out how mathematics is used everyday.
- Encourage your child’s curiosity about the world
around us.
- Be sure that your child sees you and other adults using
mathematics every day.
- Ask your child about mathematics class and look at the
work they bring home.
- Talk with your child about mathematics and solve problems
out loud together.
(Parents’ Guide, 1997)
HELP YOUR
CHILD ACHIEVE IN MATHEMATICS
Here are six
proven ways to help your child achieve in mathematics:
Visit your
child’s school—Meet with your child’s
teacher to see if your child is actively involved in mathematics.
Find out how you can help your child to better understand
mathematics problems.
Set high
standards for your child in mathematics—Make
sure your child is mathematically challenged
and encouraged to pursue mathematics. By the end of the 10th
grade, your child should be expected to have studied algebra
and geometry.
Help children
see that mathematics is very much a part of everyday life—From
statistics in sports to the sale price of clothing, from the
calories in food to the amount of gas needed to travel from
one city to another, mathematics is important to us every
day. Help your child see that mathematics leads to many exciting
career opportunities.
Stimulate
your child’s interest in technology—Encourage
your child to use calculators and computers to further learning.
Play games
that help children develop decision-making and mental
mathematics skills—There are many games sold commercially,
such as board games that involve patterns and probability.
Play games from your own family traditions such as counting
games and games that keep score. Try schoolyard games such
as jump rope, hopscotch and jacks. Games require children
to use strategies to make decisions, solve problems and develop
an understanding about numbers and how to use them (number
sense) and computational skills.
Positive attitudes about mathematics
will reinforce encouragement—Your feelings
will have an impact on how your children think about mathematics
and themselves as mathematicians. Positive attitudes about
mathematics are important in encouraging your child to think
mathematically.
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