Mathematics
Melanie Sanderson (P-2) and Susan Mitchell (3-6)
Parent and Carer Support to assist your child with mathematics
Building & creating at home helps build mathematical thinking
Making, building and creating things often includes a great deal of spatial reasoning. Whether navigating websites, following instructions to build structures, working on jigsaw puzzles and giving/using instructions to get somewhere, a range of spatial reasoning skills are needed. You can help build spatial reasoning skills, and maths, by playing with things like:
- puzzles
- LEGO
- blocks
You can also:
- Have fun with origami: https://nrich.maths.org/6715
- Build your own Tangram puzzles - Cut and make (https://nrich.maths.org/149)
- Learn to code.There are various Apps available.
Parents can support their children’s maths through talking
Parents and carers can encourage the development of their child’s mathematics by talking to them. You can keep a conversation going by pausing, providing time for your child to think and share their ideas. You can also ask ‘I wonder’ questions as you go about your day
- I wonder how many pegs are in our peg basket/are on the line now?
- I wonder how many steps it takes us to walk to the letterbox?
- It took us 13 steps to go from the front door to your bedroom and back again. I wonder if we would end on zero if we do that again, starting at 13?
- I wonder which of your toys is the shortest?
- I wonder how many rectangles we can find in our kitchen…let’s have a rectangle hunt!
- I wonder what time we should leave for our walk? We need to be home by 5pm so...
You can also talk with them when you:
- Read books together – you can ask questions about what might happen next, the location of characters and things on the page (e.g. “Is that Andy below the giant banana?”).
- Cook – talk about the amount of ingredients you’re using and how you’re measuring them (e.g. “we need 1 and a half cups of flour but I only have this half cup measure. Count with me…1 half, 2 halves (that makes a 1 whole) and 3 halves…that makes 1 and a half cups”).
- Tidy up – sorting toys into different categories.
Reference: NSW Department of Education Website