Learning Together
Support your child in Mathematics
Engaging with your child’s Mathematics’ learning in these simple, everyday ways will provide them with more and more mental images of Mathematics. They will have more images and memories to recall when they are doing Mathematics in their head. These images and memories will be linked to fun learning conversations with you that will make them easy to remember and bring a positive feeling to Mathematics learning.
- Notice the Mathematics in everyday life in the things around you - counting when climbing the stairs, measuring ingredients, sport scores, giving directions, noticing patterns in everyday things around you.
- Take the opportunity to count anything you can - Ask your child: What is one more or one less? Or ten more or ten less? Remember to count backwards too. Don't be afraid to play with big numbers either.
- Always ask your child how they worked it out - What did they see in their head? Tell them how you worked it out and notice that you are both right. If they struggle to explain how they worked it out give them some materials to show you eg. lego, paddle pop sticks, a bead string etc.
- Find arrays in everyday life - An array is an ordered collection of similar objects, usually in rows and columns. They can be used to help imagine groups. Ask your child questions like ‘How many rows are there? How many in each row? How many groups are there?
Mathematicians work together to find solutions to problems. They can explain their thinking …. and sometimes they question it and change to new thinking. Working and discovering solutions together develops your child’s Mathematical thinking.
“Talking to children about how Maths is important in their everyday life makes it relevant and real.”
Assoc. Prof Janette Babis, University of Sydney
Jeannine Ucdereli
Assistant Principal Learning and Teaching