Maths: Tips for Parents

Kindergarten - 

Weeks 5-7 -Topic: Patterns

• identifying and discussing patterns in and around your home such as lounge or bed linen material colours or shapes. For example, blue square – yellow circle, blue square – yellow circle, blue square – yellow circle
• Gather collections of small items to make patterns (e.g., buttons and coins; spoons of two sizes; crayons and markers). Take turns arranging the
• objects in a pattern for the other to describe and tell what comes next. For example: coin, coin, button, ...; big spoon, small spoon, ...; crayon, marker, marker…)
• singing songs, creating dances and readings books with repeating, rhyming or rhythmic numbers, such as There were 10 in the bed 
• noticing patterns in nature, for example a beehive, petals on a flower
• point out and talk about patterns around you, or in books. Look at wrapping paper or wall paper options. Discuss decorative patterns on posters and boxes.
• Point out repeating patterns in the daily routine: after fruit time there is always a story at school.
• Sing songs where there is a pattern, such as the same line or chorus repeated.
• Point out patterns in action songs or dances.
• Read stories and sing songs where there is a pattern of numbers going up or down.
• Make a staircase pattern with lego bricks, dominoes or tiles and ask children to continue it.

Year 1/2

Week 7 Topic: Fractions

• Involve your child in cooking activities which require half or a quarter of a cup of an ingredient. They could half fill the cup measure for you. 
• When making sandwiches or cutting other foods, talk about how you cut them into halves. Use words such as half, even, equal, parts, quarters, four equal parts;
• Involve your child in sharing with another ensuring that each person has a fair share. Both halves need to be equal.

Year 3/4 

Weeks 7-9 Topic: Addition

• Continual reinforcement of the concept of addition in the real world is extremely beneficial to student learning and understanding. Adding totals at the supermarket, in the shed or collating minutes on a device are all examples of practicing the skill.
• Oxford Owl tips to help parents support their child's additive strategies.

Year 5/6

Weeks 5-7 Topic: Additive Relations

Continue to encourage mental math and relate maths to real-life scenarios:

Help your child develop mental math skills by practicing calculations in their head. For example, encourage them to break down problems into smaller, more manageable parts or use known facts to solve related problems.

Weeks 8-10 Topic: Fractions

The following link has fraction tips for parents:

Learning About Fractions at Home: Evidence-Based Tips for Parents and Caregivers