Help With Math

Every parent knows that teenagers think they know everything; in fact, trying to tell teenagers something is sometimes next to impossible. But as a parent, you want to make sure that your teen is more money-smart; this way they don't... Continue reading "How To Make Your Teen Money Smart"

Many Web sites provide information and reviews that you can use to select the best mathematics software for your child. Here are just a few of those Web sites:... Continue reading "Math Resources: Math Software"

Grades 3-5... Continue reading "Math Resources: Books for Children, Grades 3-5"

The following is only a sampling of the many available math-related children's books that your child might enjoy. Please ask your local or school librarian to help you find other appropriate titles. Many of books listed here are also available... Continue reading "Math Resources: Books for Children, Preschool-Grade 2"

Apelman, Maja and King, Julie. (1993). Exploring Everyday Math: Ideas for Students, Teachers, and Parents. Portsmouth, New Hampshire: Heinemann. Barber, Jacqueline, Parizeau, Nicole, Bergman, Lincoln and Lima, Patricia. (2002). Spark Your Child's Success in Math and Science: Practical Advice for Parents. Berkeley, California: Great Explorations in Math and Science. Continue reading "Math Resources: Publications for Parents"

In addition to the federal sources listed above, the following Web sites contain great links for both you and your child:... Continue reading "Math Resources: Web Sites"

Federal Sources of Information... Continue reading "Math Resources: Federal"

If you have not seen it, ask to look at the No Child Left Behind Report Card for your school. These report cards show how your school compares to others in the district and indicate how well it is succeeding.... Continue reading "No Child Left Behind Report Card"

Here are some things that you can do to help your child be a successful mathematics student:... Continue reading "Helping Your Child Succeed as a Mathematics Student"

As a result of recent efforts to strengthen the mathematics curricula in our nation's schools, from basic through more advanced levels, the instruction that you can see in your child's mathematics classes may look quite a bit different from what... Continue reading "What Does Effective Mathematics Instruction Look Like?"

Algebra: A form of advanced arithmetic in which letters of the alphabet represent unknown numbers. Children use simple algebra when they solve a problem such as 4 + ? =7 (a problem they would phrase as "4 + x = 7" when they get older and begin to study algebra). Continue reading "Math Glossary"

Variations for All Grades Learning to use the special functions of calculators can expand children's knowledge of many arithmetic operations, help them to recognize number patterns and increase their ability to reason mathematically.... Continue reading "Calculated Answers"

Variations for All Grades Games with number cards can help children develop strategies for using numbers in different combinations by adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing.... Continue reading "Card Smarts"

Grades 2-5 Playing games that involve chance is one way to introduce children to the meaning of probability.... Continue reading "What Are My Chances?"

Grades 2-5 Using mathematical reasoning skills to figure out the unknown is good preparation for understanding algebra.... Continue reading "What Coins Do I Have?"

Grades 1-5 Learning to use a calculator can help children understand and apply estimation and mathematical reasoning skills, as well as learn addition, subtraction, division and multiplication.... Continue reading "Open for Business"

Kindergarten-Grade 2 Games give children a chance to use math skills and math language in a non-threatening situation.... Continue reading "Guess What I'm Thinking"

Preschool-Kindergarten Counting games make developing number sense easy and fun.... Continue reading "Count It Out"

Preschool Playing with blocks is fun, but it also can teach basic math skills such as number recognition, counting, identifying patterns, recognizing symmetry and sorting.... Continue reading "A Tower of Numbers"

During summer vacations, on rainy days, while waiting at the doctor's office or on a stroll through the neighborhood, learning never ends.... Continue reading "Mathematics for the Fun of It — Activities"

Grades 1-5 Putting away groceries helps children develop classifying and mathematical reasoning skills and the ability to analyze data.... Continue reading "Put It Away"

Grades 3-4 The checkout lane of a grocery store can be a good place for children to practice using mental math by estimating the cost of groceries and figuring out change.... Continue reading "Check It Out"

Grades 3-4 Grocery shopping offers opportunities for children to increase their estimation and measurement skills by choosing and weighing fruit and vegetables.... Continue reading "Weighing In"

Grades 1-2 Coupons can be used to help children learn the value of money as well as to let them show off their addition and subtraction skills.... Continue reading "Clip and Save"

Kindergarten-Grade 1 Grocery shopping offers opportunities to let children apply a range of mathematics skills, including data collection and estimation.... Continue reading "Ready, Set, Shop!"

The grocery store is one of the best examples of a place where the ability to use mathematics is put to work in the "real world." It's a great place to practice measurement and estimation and to learn about volume... Continue reading "One Potato, Two Potatoes"

Grades 3-5 A shape is symmetrical if it can be cut along a straight line into two halves that are mirror images of each other. Learning about symmetry gives children a good sense of geometric principles and calls on their... Continue reading "Simply Symmetrical"

Grades 2-3 In introducing children to the concept of fractions—numbers that aren't whole numbers (such as 1/2, 1/3 and 1/4)—it's often a good idea to use objects that they can see and touch.... Continue reading "Fraction Action"

Grades 2-3 Introducing children to statistics and data analysis can begin by having them collect information, analyze it and describe or present their findings in an organized way.... Continue reading "Tracking Time"

Grades 1-2 Filling empty containers provides opportunities to explore geometric concepts such as "more or less" and volume, and to apply measurement skills.... Continue reading "Fill It Up"

Kindergarten-Grade 1 Newspapers are good resources for building number sense and arithmetic skills and using mathematical reasoning.... Continue reading "In the News(paper)"

Kindergarten-Grade 1 Once children begin school, math-related activities at home can help to reinforce what they are learning about numbers and arithmetic operations such as addition and subtraction, as well as reinforce classification skills and mathematical reasoning.... Continue reading "Treasure Hunt"

Kindergarten-Grade 1 Observing, estimating, weighing and comparing are all essential mathematics skills.... Continue reading "A-Weigh We Go!"

Preschool-Kindergarten Using objects that are familiar to young children can be a good way to introduce them to differences in shapes and to classification.... Continue reading "Shape Up"

Preschool-Kindergarten Sorting and matching activities introduce young children to many mathematical operations, including classification and measurement.... Continue reading "Sort It Out"

Preschool-Kindergarten Young children may not recognize that numbers are all around them. Pointing out numbers on everyday items increases their number sense.... Continue reading "Find It"

Preschool-Kindergarten Ordinary activities can be used to reinforce young children's number sense and introduce them to arithmetic operations such as addition and subtraction.... Continue reading "Walk and Count"

Preschool By counting, using number names and learning to recognize differences in number values, children build a foundation for the development of number sense and mathematical reasoning.... Continue reading "Number Hunt"

Preschool Young children love to hear, sing and say nursery rhymes and songs. Counting rhymes and songs can be both enjoyable for them and introduce them to basic mathematics concepts, such as number names and number sequence.... Continue reading "Rhyme and Sing"

Your home is a great place for you to begin to explore and "talk" mathematics with your child.... Continue reading "Mathematics in the Home — Activities"

Grades 3-5 An important mathematical concept for children to learn is the relationship between two quantities such as miles per hour or cost per gallon.... Continue reading "Ease on Down the Road"

Grades 2-4 Licenses plates can be used to reinforce children's understanding of the language of mathematics as well as their mathematical reasoning abilities.... Continue reading "License Plate Special"

Grades 2-4 License plates can be used both to help children develop their knowledge of numbers and as an introduction to algebra.... Continue reading "License Plate Riddles"

Kindergarten-Grade 3 Traveling provides children with lots of opportunities to practice number recognition as well as counting skills.... Continue reading "Number Search"

Kindergarten-Grade 2 Children develop positive attitudes toward math when they see that their parents and families value it. Find ways to show that you enjoy math. Let your child see you using math not only for routine activities, such as... Continue reading "Are We There Yet?"

Preschool Show children that you use math skills by "thinking out loud" as you do things such as measuring distances on a map: "Let's see, it's five miles to Jackson and then three miles from Jackson to Albany, so that's... Continue reading "Off We Go"

The activities in this section are arranged into four categories: Mathematics in the Home, Mathematics at the Grocery Store, Mathematics on the Go and Mathematics for the Fun of It. For each activity, you'll see a grade span—from preschool through... Continue reading "Math Activities"

You can help your child learn math by offering her insights into how to approach math. She will develop more confidence in her math ability if she understands the following points:... Continue reading "Important Things to Know About Math"

In everyday interactions with children, there are many things that parents can do—and do without lecturing or applying pressure—to help children learn to solve problems, to communicate mathematically and to demonstrate reasoning abilities. These skills are fundamental to learning mathematics.... Continue reading "Being a Math Problem Solver"

What kind of attitude do you have toward math? Do you believe that math skills are important job and life skills? Do you see math as useful in everyday life? Or do you dread doing things that involve math—figuring out... Continue reading "Your Math Attitude"

We know from research that children are more likely to be successful learners of any subject when parents actively support their learning. Today, helping children to make the effort to learn, appreciate and master mathematics is more important than ever.... Continue reading "Introduction to Math"