Mathematics Workshop for Parents

“PARENTS COUNT TOO”

Show an interest in your child’s school work

Expect your child to succeed

Share a positive attitude towards mathematics with your child

Support your child’s interest in mathematics

Talk about mathematics and solving problems

How Can You Support Your Child’sLearning of Mathematics?

Be prepared to discuss mathematical ideas

Point out how mathematics is used every day

Ask your child what they have learnt in mathematics

Be positive about your child’s efforts and encourage them to practise skills

Support the school’s mathematics program

The most important thing you can do is to take the time to discuss mathematical thinking with your child and show how you value your child as a learner of mathematics

1. Working Mathematically:Students who feel confident about Working

Mathematically feel confident about themselves as learners of mathematics.

Encourage your child’s curiosity about the use of numbers and measurements in the world around them eg in the kitchen (measuring, digital timers, sharing, fractions)

Listen to their many questions and ask your own questions.

Play games together and discuss how mathematical ideas can be used to play (in a board game work out what die you may need to throw to land on / win)

How can I help my child with Maths at home?

2. Number: Count with your child whenever possible. Play

counting games while travelling in the car. Remember to count forward and backwards starting from different numbers.

Look for numbers in your local area (eg house numbers, prices, speed signs, Roman numerals)

Number plate game: how many different numbers can you make from the 3 digits displayed on car in front of you

Card games: addition or subtraction snap

3. Patterns and Algebra: Use a calculator to count by 1, 2, 3 and so on.Press +2= then continue to press =, =, = Play ‘guess the next number’ or ‘guess my

rule’ games. This involves listing a set of numbers that form a pattern eg 2, 5, 8, 11, ...

Talk about the relationship between number groups eg 2+1 = 3 and 1+2=3

Play detective: work out the missing number in a ‘code’ eg 3 + = 8

4. Data: Create a graph of your child’s growth over time.

Use tally marks to score in a game, or count days to a special event.

Collect data relating to the child eg count up books that have been read over a month

5. Measurement: Collect jars and containers of different sizes and

shapes. Sort them from smallest to largest capacity then check by filling (great for in the bath)

Join your child in working out measurements for cooking, building, craft or sewing

Read and interpret timetables with your child eg train, bus, TV guides. Encourage your child to estimate how long it will take to perform a common task eg minutes or seconds

6. Space and Geometry: Encourage your child to find shapes and objects

used in their environment eg in buildings, parks, schools, shops. Why are some shapes and objects used more than others?

Discuss 3 dimensional objects with your child using their geometric names eg cone, cylinder, cube, sphere, rectangular prism. Have a ‘shape hunt’.

Identify symmetry in the environment. Sort leaves and flowers on the basis of symmetry.

Find examples of tessellating shapes in the community eg pavements, buildings.

1. K-6 Mathematics Parent Support Document PDF (40 pages of ideas and information) http://k6.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/go/mathematics

2. TaLe: http://www.tale.edu.au

3. Curriculum support http://www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/primary/mathematics/index.htm

(with links to others below)

4. Parents Count Too (downloads for all strands) http://www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/primary/mathematics/numeracy/parents/index.htm

5. Count Me In Too:http://www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/countmein/parents.html

6. New Australian Curriculum http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/Home

7. National Literacy and Numeracy Week http://www.nlnw.nsw.edu.au

USEFUL WEBSITES

BEFORE: Patterns and Algebra Number Space and Geometry Measurement Data

The Content Strands are now: Number and Algebra Measurement and Geometry Statistics and Probability

The new National Curriculum: Mathematics

BEFORE: Working Mathematically? Questioning Reasoning Applying Strategies Communicating Reflecting

NOW: Proficiency Strands: Fluency Reasoning Understanding Problem solving

CONTENT is what is being taught

PROFICIENCY is how it is being taught

BEFORE: Early Stage 1: Kindergarten Stage 1: Years 1 and 2 Stage 2: Years 3 and 4 Stage 3: Years 5 and 6

NOW:K-2: 5 to 8 years3-6: 8 to 12 years 7-10: 12 to 15 years11-12: 15 to 18 years

Curriculum is divided across 4 year groupings:

EnglishHistory Science

Connections to other Learning Areas