Do's and Don't's for Back to School Math

First the Do’s:

• ​​Do “math” with your children just as you read with them. Practice makes perfect when it comes to basic math facts. Have them help estimate your grocery bill, figure out elapsed time when you are running errands, count change in your wallet, measure ingradients for dinner.

• Do make sure your children get their math homework done in a timely fashion. The sooner the better, actually. Chances are their teacher will be covering the unit all week and the sooner they identify a challenge the more likely they are to get help earlier.

• Do meet with your child’s math teacher from time to time so that you know what is going on beyond the report card (your child’s attitude, whether there is a need for extra help or enrichment...). Work with your child’s teacher to set REALISTIC GOALS for current school year and for the future. If your student is younger, know all roads lead to algebra and any and all algebra-readiness skills are vital.

Now for the ​Don’ts:

• If you aren't the biggest fan of math, please don't communicate any negative opinions or experiences in the math classroom influence your child’s education. They love you and will likely assume that feeling this way is genetic. it isn't. ;-)

• Don’t let your child use a calculator until the child has developed genuine Number Sense. This habit will pay itself back in spades down the road!

• Don’t let your child be put in a math class that the child is not ready for, that is, a class where the child does not have the prerequisite knowledge necessary for success. Cramming to gain entry to an advanced class comes with consequences your student may not be equipped to handle. The combination of skills, advanced problem solving, and quicker pace of material could feel like a tsunami of math coming at them.