Communication between home and school is an important part of the mathematics program in Ontario’s elementary schools. Be positive about math and encourage your child to have fun while solving problems. Highlight the math that you do in your everyday activities such as measuring ingredients when cooking and doing mental math when making a purchase. Encourage your child to explain how they solved a problem.
Other math ideas for at home include:
talk about shapes and sizes in your environment
track the weather over the summer and discuss the number of sunny or cloudy days
look for patterns around your neighbourhood (e.g., interlocking bricks or gardens)
measure objects around your home using found objects (e.g., a paperclip) and a ruler
estimate the length or height of objects in your home
compare the length of different objects around your home
count objects around the house – remember to count by 1’s, 2’s, and 5’s
identify numbers everywhere in your environment
play games and do puzzles with your child
Most of all have mathematical fun together!