Welcome to Math Mania Granger Elementary School Family Math Night

Traditional Math  Collection of rules and procedures to memorize  Focus is on getting answers  Only some are “good at math” John A. Van de Walle (2007)

How is the way we teach and learn mathematics different? Memorizing procedures to get an answer Do math in a way that makes sense to the learner Teacher – centered Student - centered

“The goal of mathematics should be to produce learners who are both mathematically competent and confident. This does not come from merely memorizing rules and procedures, but from understanding relationships and knowing you can make sense of information and situations you encounter.” Ruth Parker (2000)

ITS ABOUT THE WHY? Conceptual Age – its no longer about just getting an answer. How did you get there? What tools did you use? Why did you choose to solve it in that way? Conceptual Age – its no longer about just getting an answer. How did you get there? What tools did you use? Why did you choose to solve it in that way? Employers want people who can apply what they learn and work collaboratively. Traditional math does not work for all children. Many don’t understand what they learned.

Investigations in Number, Data, and Space K-5 program K-5 program Focuses on mathematical thinking and reasoning. Focuses on mathematical thinking and reasoning. Does not abandon traditional learning, just builds a conceptual understanding FIRST.

As a result of their everyday learning, students will…. Explore problems in depth Find more than one way to solve a problem Develop problem-solving strategies Explain their thinking Represent their thinking using models, words and numbers Make connections between mathematical ideas Develop fluency – efficiency, accuracy, and flexibility Choose a variety of tools and technology Learn with and through each other

So what does it look like? MATH WORKSHOP

So what does it look like? DEVELOPING FLUENCY WITH NUMBERS

So what does it look like? PROBLEM SOLVING – FINDING MORE THAN ONE WAY TO SOLVE PROBLEMS This student used tallies and drew a picture.

So what does it look like? PROBLEM SOLVING This student used a number line to solve the equation.

So what does it look like? PROBLEM SOLVING This student decomposed the numbers in the equation.

So what does it look like? REFLECTION Writing about our thinking

Ways to support your child… “One of the most significant things parents can do is to help their children understand the normalcy and the value of struggle in mathematics. Learning math ultimately comes down to one thing: the ability, and choice, to put one’s brain around a problem – to stare past the confusion, and struggle forward rather than flee.” S. Sutton (1998)

Ways to support your child… Work on fact fluency every night – flashcards, addition and subtraction games Work on fact fluency every night – flashcards, addition and subtraction games Practice telling time on an analog clock Practice telling time on an analog clock Count groups of coins to find the total Count groups of coins to find the total Go shopping – have your student add the total Go shopping – have your student add the total Skip count in the car – by 2, 3, 5, 10, 20, 25 Skip count in the car – by 2, 3, 5, 10, 20, 25 Cook together – talk about recipes and fractions Cook together – talk about recipes and fractions Play dice games/domino games – add or subtract the totals to see who wins Play dice games/domino games – add or subtract the totals to see who wins Have your child count objects in different ways Have your child count objects in different ways Sort objects by attributes Sort objects by attributes Make lists of ways you used math in one day Make lists of ways you used math in one day Check out books by Greg Tang from the library and solve the problems inside Check out books by Greg Tang from the library and solve the problems inside

Ways to support your child… believing that s/he can successfully learn mathematics believing that s/he can successfully learn mathematics expecting your child to work hard to learn mathematics expecting your child to work hard to learn mathematics sharing how you use mathematics everyday sharing how you use mathematics everyday playing games that make learning fun and important playing games that make learning fun and important solving problems together and exploring different ways to solve the same problems solving problems together and exploring different ways to solve the same problems asking your child questions as s/he solves problems asking your child questions as s/he solves problems examining why solutions are correct and incorrect examining why solutions are correct and incorrect knowing how Investigations helps your child learn mathematics knowing how Investigations helps your child learn mathematics supporting your child as s/he completes homework assignments supporting your child as s/he completes homework assignments

Read “Helping Your Child With Math” Read “Helping Your Child With Math” by Jeremy Kilpatrick and Jane Swafford, Editors, Mathematics Learning Study Committee, National Research Council Math Games to play at home – a list of games (including directions) will be added to our website as we introduce them in class Math Games to play at home – a list of games (including directions) will be added to our website as we introduce them in class Visit these websites for more ideas Visit these websites for more ideas

It is time to “do” the math!