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Parent
Information Station
Everyday Math
Help for Parents
One of the
biggest challenges with our new math curriculum, now in its 5th year
district-wide, is that many parents are unsure how this "new math"
works because the way the math is taught is not how you and I were
taught in school. I have had more parents than I can count say to me
"But I just don't understand
this math!" Believe me, I understand. It is a little different. The
principles of the concepts are still the same, they are just taught in
a different way. I know as a parent myself there is nothing more
frustrating than feeling like you can't help your child because you don't understand the material.
(This is why when my 10th grader asks for math help, I have to be
honest and tell her to go ask her dad because I'm clueless at math
beyond the 6th grade!) I have put together some resources on this page
to hopefully provide you, the parent, with some ways to better help
your child to be successful with this math program. If you ever are
really stuck and need help, please ask me. I am happy to help and have
actually tutored parents in the math to help them better help their
child. I want both you and your child to be successful!
Homework
Homework is such a valuable part
of your child's learning experience in school. It allows your child to
practice concepts being taught in class without one-to-one support from
the teacher. This provides accountability for the child (to make sure
s/he pays attention in class so they know how to do the work) and
teaches effective study habits.
How can you help?
- Establish a quiet,
well-lit place for your child(ren) to complete their homework
- Be sure to keep
pencils, extra paper, a calculator if needed and a dictionary available
as your child works on homework
- Set a specific time
each day that is "Homework Only" time -- this means turning off the TV
or radio so the focus can be on homework
- Be positive about
homework and your child will be too
- If your child needs
help, provide guidance and suggestions, not the answers -- you want
your child to be able to do this work independently. If they are really
struggling, be sure to contact the teacher
- It is okay to assist
your child with reading directions and talking through problems, but
the work should be completed by the child to better ensure his/her
success with the material
It may also be helpful to establish a set reading time each night,
perhaps right before bed. For younger students, this could mean reading
a story together and for older students, perhaps the child can read the
story to you. This allows children to share their reading progress with
you but also to view reading as a positive and productive habit.
Why Your Child
Should Read 20 minutes per day
Sometimes students have difficulty
understanding just why it is so important that they read every night
for at least 20 minutes. Research proves that reading proficiency is
based mostly on how much
reading a person does.
When your child says "Why Can't I Skip My
Reading Tonight?", consider this as an answer:
Let's figure it out
mathematically.
Student A reads
20 minutes five nights of
every
week;
Student B reads
only 4 minutes a
night...or not at all!
Step 1:
Multiply minutes a night x 5
times each week.
Student A reads 20 minutes x 5 times a week= 100 minutes/week.
Student B reads 4 minutes x 5 times a week= 20 minutes/week.
Step 2:
Multiply minutes a week x 4 weeks
each month.
Student A reads 400 minutes/month.
Student B reads 80 minutes/month.
Step 3:
Multiply minutes a month x 9
months/school year.
Student A reads 3600 minutes/school year.
Student B reads 720 minutes/school year.
Student A practices reading the equivalent
of ten whole school days a year.
Student B gets the equivalent of only two
school days of reading practice.
By the end of
sixth grade, if Student A
and Student B maintain these same reading habits,
Student A will have read the
equivalent of 60 whole school days.
Student B will have read the
equivalent of only 12 school days.
One would expect the gap of
information retained will
have widened considerably and so, undoubtedly, will school
performance. How do you think Student B will feel about
him/herself as a student?
Some questions to
ponder:
Which student would you expect to read better?
Which student would you expect to know more?
Which student would you expect to write better?
Which student would you
expect to gave a better vocabulary?
Which student would you
expect to more successful in school and in life?
[Source: U.S.
Department of Education, America
Reads Challenge. (1999) "Start Early, Finish Strong: How to Help Every
Child Become A Reader." Washington, D.C.]
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