A Voice from the Village
By Karen Loo, K-2 Resource Teacher
Aloha! They say it takes a village to raise a child. As a Resource Teacher, I am honored to add my “voice” to your child’s success at Kula Ha’aha’a. In this message I would like to share some thoughts about math.
In Kindergarten, your child became skilled at counting. That very important foundation now makes it possible for your child to create understandings of how larger numbers work. Now they must become flexible and fluent in seeing tens and bundles of tens. While equations such as (7 + 3 = ? ; ? = 10 – 3; 3 + 4 = 5 + 2) may seem much too simple, the ability to independently, automatically, and efficiently use their knowledge of 10ʻs is the groundwork for understanding time, money, and larger numbers, to mention just a few major math concepts. Bundling, or unitizing, is the key to your child understanding place value concepts, layering new and more complex ways of adding and subtracting. The idea of “bundling” can be found in many different areas of our lives (a dozen eggs, a pair of shoes, a 24-pack of batteries, etc.) and, because they have spent their first year in school counting by ones, counting items, now, as a group or bundle can cause some confusion. Thanks to our teachers, our students are engaged in activities that require mathematical thinking and mathematical talk on a daily basis. For this age, there is no greater means of learning broad and far-reaching concepts like place value. And, thanks to our families, providing real-life purposes for using math to accomplish authentic tasks and meet real needs continues to clarify the big learning of such young minds. Mahalo for your part in continuing to build the foundations of math in your child! If youʻre looking for more ideas with which to engage those mathematical “gears” with your first grader, please read on:
IXL: With this app, your child is able to practice math using a format similar to the standardized MAP test that we use to measure learning as a school. The skills practiced are also aligned with the Hawaii Common Core Standards and the Hawaii Early Learning and Development Standards. Each month the names of all First Graders who have completed at least 7 skills at 100% are put into a jar for a drawing of a Jamba Juice gift card. Although only one child is chosen, all students achieving the minimum 7 skills are practicing and reinforcing learning from school. Congratulations to these students for representing the habit of independent practice:
Home Activities: Here are some activities from (http://schoolwires.henry.k12.ga.us/cms/lib08/GA01000549/Centricity/Domain/3791/Parent%20Guide%20Math%201.pdf) that you can do at home with your child to encourage mathematical skills and thinking:
- Look for everyday opportunities to have your child do mathematics. For example, if you open a carton of eggs and take out seven, ask, “How many are left in the carton?”
- Play math games with your child. For example, “I’m thinking of a number. When I add five to it, I get 11. What is the number?”
- Encourage your child to read and write numbers in different ways. For example, what are some ways that you can make the number 15? 15 can be 10+5, 7+8, 20-5, or 5+5+5. 4. Have your child create story problems to represent addition, subtraction, and comparisons. For example, “I have seven pennies. My brother has five pennies. How many pennies does he need to have the same number as I have? He needs two more pennies.”
- Encourage your child to stick with it whenever a problem seems difficult. This will help your child see that everyone can learn math.
- Praise your child when he or she makes an effort and share in the excitement when he or she solves a problem or understands something for the first time.
OnLine Sites:
These sites are filled with “math-ish” ideas for family enjoyment as mathematical thinking, language, and practices are put to use in meaningful and fun ways. Enjoy!
At this site you will find many ideas for Christmas crafts with your child. And, many opportunities to use mathematical thinking – whether measuring, counting, or looking for patterns.
http://www.education.com/activity/first-grade/christmas/?page=2
Visit this site for cooking activities with your first grader – from Hamburger Cookies to a Chocolate Covered Apples!
http://www.education.com/slideshow/10-super-bowl-snacks-make-your-kids/
http://www.education.com/slideshow/sweet-treats-holidays/bake-candy-canes/
Here are some math games for you and your family to enjoy, while reinforcing making and seeing 10ʻs:
http://www.education.com/activity/article/Tens_Fish/
http://www.education.com/slideshow/card-games-first-grade-math/slapit_first/
http://www.abcya.com/math_lines_addition.htm