HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR CHILD MATH HOMEWORK

PURPOSES OF HOMEWORK : Independent Practice – an opportunity for students to determine how well they understood and can apply the skills they learned and practiced in class. Review - of pre-requisite skills that will be necessary for upcoming lessons. Exploration/Research - of real world contexts for the math being taught in class. Thinking Time - focused time allotted to contemplate mathematical ideas in order to develop one’s own understandings and questions.

MVMS math Homework facts: Homework is 10% of a student’s grade. Students should always record their math homework in their agenda book. Teachers post the math homework assignment on Canvas daily.

"It's not your job to know the answer.” Math instruction has changed dramatically since today's parents were in school, but parents and/or guardians can still help. Familiarize yourself with the topic through the Family Math Support Center. The vocabulary and methods we use in class are reflected in the videos and lessons on the HCPSS site. Good News for Parents Stumped by their Chiids' Math Work:

Never answer a question when you can ASK one instead! Ask your child to take a moment to think about what the problem is asking them to do. Ask your child to identify what s/he already knows. Ask your child to take out and refer to notes or work done in class to help them solve the problem Ask your child to explain what s/he did so far to try to solve the problem or answer the question.

Asking for more Encourage your child to stick with it whenever a problem seems difficult. If you jump in to help they will believe they cannot ever do the math independently. Stand by them and prompt them with questions that give them ideas of what their next direction might be, they will soon ask those same questions of themselves when they are stuck. Prompt your child to face math challenges positively and to see math as a subject that is important. Avoid statements like “I wasn’t good at math”, “math is too hard”, “I’m not a math person” Praise effort! Even if an attempt is unsuccessful, point out what was learned by making the mistake!

Celebrate! Share the milestones and the pebbles with excitement and pride. When your child learns something for the first time or solves a problem that has been difficult for them, be sure to notice and share in the excitement. Let your child know when they have shown you some math in a new way. Thank them for teaching you and show the appreciation you want to see from them when the roles are reversed. When reviewing assessments, focus on what they did well instead of their errors. By asking “What would you do differently on your next assessment?” you are helping them focus on positive changes they can make in the future.