Little children possess remarkable mathematical minds, often grasping complex concepts earlier than we might expect. As a preschool classroom conversation revealed:
Child 1: 100 is big.
Child 2: Infinity is really big.
Child 3: Infinity is counting forever.
Child 2: Zero means nothing.
Child 1: People who are 100 hit their heads on the ceiling.
This exchange highlights children’s innate curiosity and developing mathematical understanding. In fact, studies show that children are entering kindergarten with stronger math skills than previous generations, a trend seen across all socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds. A significant factor in this progress is how families actively participate in children’s learning experiences, both at home and within their communities. Turning early math into A Family Thing – a shared exploration and discovery – is key to fostering this growth.
Drawing upon expert recommendations, we’ve compiled practical ideas and resources to help families cultivate children’s mathematical abilities and guide educators in supporting family involvement in this exciting journey.
Suggestions for Parents: Making Math a Fun Family Thing
Integrate Math into Story Time with Themed Books. Leading educators like Herb Ginsburg and his team at Teachers College, Columbia University, emphasize the value of reading books that naturally weave in mathematical concepts. During reading sessions, parents can transform story time into a family thing by prompting children to count objects, identify shapes within illustrations, and articulate their mathematical reasoning. Librarians and early childhood education professionals are excellent resources for discovering books and digital media rich in mathematical content. Many libraries also host story hours and engaging activities centered around mathematical themes, making learning a family thing within the community.
Embrace the Struggle: Let Children Solve Math Puzzles Independently. Laura Overdeck, founder of Bedtime Math, a program designed to make math a family thing at bedtime, advises families to allow children to grapple with math questions and develop their own problem-solving strategies. It’s crucial for children of all ages to have the time to understand why answers are correct, not just what the answers are. Resist the urge to immediately provide solutions. Instead, guide them gently and celebrate their effort. Furthermore, be mindful of your own language around math. Avoid expressing negativity or dislike towards math, as this can inadvertently shape a child’s perception of math as a family thing to be avoided rather than embraced.
Turn Everyday Moments into “Math Talk” Opportunities. Taniesha Woods, co-editor of Mathematics Learning in Early Childhood, underscores the natural integration of math into daily family life. Whether at home, in the park, or grocery shopping, families are perfectly positioned to engage in “math talk.” This simple yet powerful practice makes math a family thing woven into the fabric of daily routines. For instance, while sharing cookies, count them together, discuss their shapes (circles, squares), and explore what happens when you break a cookie, eat one, or ask for more. These everyday interactions transform ordinary moments into valuable math learning experiences, solidifying math as a family thing.
Suggestions for Educators: Partnering with Families to Make Math a Shared Thing
Communicate Developmentally Appropriate Math Content and Teaching Methods. Marlene Kliman, a senior scientist at TERC, suggests that educators proactively communicate with parents about age-appropriate math content and effective teaching approaches. This is especially important when modern math instruction differs from traditional methods parents experienced in their own schooling. To make math a family thing bridging home and school, provide families with engaging, fun ways to learn about these contemporary math concepts and teaching styles. For example, send home math-related crafts for children to share and complete with their families or suggest math games that families can play together, reinforcing math as a family thing. Leveraging technology, teachers can also send short video clips of classroom math activities via text or email, showcasing how math learning can be a family thing that extends beyond the classroom.
Guide Families in Utilizing Digital and Real-World Math Activities. The PBS KIDS website offers a wealth of free digital games, hands-on activities, and video clips designed to make math a family thing for children and families to explore together. Betsy McCarthy from WestEd highlights the positive impact of teacher guidance in this area. When early childhood educators trained parents on how to use these digital tools and encouraged family engagement, children’s math knowledge and skills demonstrably improved. Furthermore, parents became more aware of and supportive of their children’s math learning, fostering a stronger sense of math as a family thing.
Recognize and Value Families’ Everyday Math Practices. Marta Civil and Diane Kinch from TODOS: Mathematics for ALL, advocate for educators to understand that mathematics is not confined to the classroom but is an integral part of everyday family life. To foster this understanding and make math a family thing, they recommend informal gatherings where families and teachers can discuss math problems and share their reasoning and problem-solving approaches. Inviting parents into the classroom and encouraging them to share personal experiences of using math in their daily routines can further bridge the gap between home and school math, solidifying math as a family thing that is relevant and accessible to all.
Resources for Families and Educators to Support Children’s Mathematical Learning
(Please refer to the original article for resource links as they are already valuable and relevant.)
