Doing+Math+at+Home

=Here are some ideas for you to consider as you go about your regular family activities:=


 * Let your children know that you believe they can succeed.** Let them see you enjoying activities where math is involved. Children tend to emulate their parents. If a parent says "You know, that is really interesting!" that becomes the child's model.


 * Be ready to talk with your children about Mathematics ... and Listen to what they are saying.** Even when you don't know how to solve a problem you can ask your child to explain it to you. If they will explain the parts of the problem, analyze what they know, and discuss a strategy for solving; that may be enough for them to solve a problem.


 * Be more concerned with the Processes of doing mathematics.** Following the correct procedure and understanding the concepts in a math problem are more important than getting the right answer. Answers will change from problem to problem, but the processes and concepts are tools your child can use for a lifetime.


 * Try not to tell your child How to do a problem.** Once a child is told how to do a problem, deep and probing kinds of thinking stop. It is usually better to ask your child to think about how to do a problem and then coach them.


 * Practice Estimating and using other Math Tools at home.** Estimation helps the thinking about a problem that proceeds doing, and is a very useful "sense-making" tool. Ask your child to "find the better deal' at the grocery store, or estimate the cost of the items in a cart. Find ways to get them to use these tools.


 * Provide a special place to study.** Allow a time and place where your child can have the necessary tools and can focus on homework. Try to fit his or her learning style. Some children study better with some music in the background or sprawling on the bed. Some children do better in a quieter and more structured environment.


 * Encourage Group Study.** Open your home to study groups. Invite your child's friends to work together. Teenage students can help each other to understand concepts in ways that most adults do not. A child learns the subject at a much deeper level when he teaches another. This is also a way for you to meet your child's friends and observe their behavior.


 * Expect you child to do homework.** Check their work for completeness, neatness, and correctness. Parents that accept excuses for incomplete can unknowingly enable their children to fail. You don't need to be a drill sergeant, but you can be the best tool for your child's successes.


 * Understand that homework is not always easy.** Realize that your child may bring home a less-than-hoped-for score on a test or assignment. That is not failure, it is an opportunity for your child to grow and reach for more. Your child can improve a score by trying harder, getting help, or using the many tools that you put in his or her reach.