Over the next few weeks I would like to share with you some strategies for assisting your child with Maths at home. Choose two or three of the following strategies and use them throughout the week. They are intended to help increase your child’s understanding of math skills and to develop confidence in learning.

Computation:

• Count orally by twos, fives, or tens
• Complete connect-the-dot pictures
• Have your child make a number book which contains a page for each numeral from one to ten. On each page, have your child glue clippings from newspapers and magazines illustrating that number concept (two dogs, three ducks, or four horses). As your child progresses with number recognition, they can add to the book and add numerical figures used in various ways
• Count and pair objects found around the house and determine whether there’s an odd or even number of items
• Review math facts at home, in the car, waiting in line, or during other downtime
• Provide your child with verbal math problems. “Take the number five; add six; multiply by three; subtract three; divide by five. What’s your answer?” Speak slowly at first until your child gets better at solving these mental problems; then speak more quickly
• Help your child identify ads in signs, newspapers, and magazines that use percentages
• Encourage your child to read nutrition labels. Have them calculate the percent of protein in each item

Geometry:

• Fold a sheet of paper in half and have your child draw a shape along the fold; cut out the shape and unfold the paper to see a symmetrical shape
• Look around the house for different geometric shapes, such as triangles, squares, circles, and rectangles
• Use household items (such as toothpicks, marshmallows, straws, twist-ties, sticks, or paper) to construct shapes
• Help your child recognise and identify real-world examples of right angles (the corner of a book) and parallel lines (railroad tracks)
• While driving together, direct your child to look for objects with the same size and shape

Mrs Lillian Del Giudice
Assistant Principal