|
Math skills and abilities do not come naturally to us all! In fact, many people consider themselves ‘math-phobic’. This fear of mathematics can become problematic if you’re a parent trying to help a child struggling with math in school. Fortunately, there are plenty of resources available to assist parents in supporting their children with math studies and homework.
An excellent starting point is the Ontario Ministry of Education’s “Helping Your Child Learn Math: A Parent’s Guide” (http://bit.ly/poGPCt). In Ontario, students learn the concepts and skills defined in the expectations for each grade in accordance with the math curriculum, which covers 5 major areas, or strands of mathematics. These include Number Sense and Numeration, Measurement, Geometry, Spatial Sense, Pattering and Algebra and Data Management and Probability. “Helping Your Child Learn Math: A Parent’s Guide” is designed to help parents support their children in learning and applying these different strands of the math curriculum. The guide provides suggestions for everyday math activities that parents and children can do together and is particularly helpful for parents of children in JK through Grade 3.
The guide explains that children find success in math studies when they work through activities that encourage them to explore, problem solve, and explain how they found solutions. It suggests that children learn best when they can apply their learning of math concepts and methods to their own experiences. For example, by using household objects such as measuring cups and observing everyday events, such as weather patterns, children can ‘see’ the ideas that are being taught.
In addition to providing detailed, step-by-step activities that parents can work on with their children at home, the guide also offers the following tips for parents:
• Be positive about math
• Make math part of your child’s day
• Encourage your child to give explanations
For more information about supporting your child’s math education, visit http://www.ruthrumack.com/ or call 416- 925-1225. You can easily improve the math skills of your child without any discomfort with Math Tutor Online. |