HELP YOUR CHILD WITH MATH AT HOME!

Begin each math homework session by asking your child to explain what he's supposed to do. By his response, you'll know if he can do the assignment alone or if you need to help him get started.

When helping your child, ask questions to guide him through the process, such as, "Where do you begin?" "What do you need to find out?" " Can you show me in a drawing how you got the answer?"

It's okay to say that you don't understand a problem. It gives you an opportunity to review the lesson together to see if you've missed some important piece of information.

Establish a clear understanding with your child's teacher(s) about the frequency and amount of homework he'll receive. Modification of homework may increase his motivation and how much work he does. With his teacher, decide if he needs to do fewer problems, or if he can say the answers out loud and you can write them for him, or if he can check his work with a calculator.

If you're not around when your child completes his homework, let him know that you'll look it over when you get home. Be sure to follow through. Tell him you're doing this to help him, not judge him.

When kids realize that math is all around them, they begin to relax and see its meaning in their lives. So use math in everyday life-count out forks to set the table, pour out a measured amount of milk, or practice telling time.

Show how math is more than learning addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Math also teaches us to analyze, reason, and plan. These are all useful skills that transfer over to reading and writing as well.

Model analytical and mathematical thinking. Be a problem solver, explore questions, and find solutions. Talk about likenesses and differences, and explain your reasoning.

Encourage your child to express his problem solving out loud so you can understand his reasoning.

When driving in the car, talk about how numbers help us determine how fast we drive, the distance traveled, mileage the car gets per gallon of gas, and how long it will takes to get home.

Expose your child to money in his early school years. Have him keep coins in a piggy bank and count them out regularly. If he receives an allowance, have him keep track of the amount or start a bank account.

Have your child use an analog and digital watch or clock to learn both methods of telling time.

Post a chart of math facts on the wall in his room. Some activities and games can help kids memorize math facts.

Computer learning games can also be used to reinforce skills. Most kids enjoy working on the computer. There are software programs to fit many skill levels. Older students may want to use calendars or spreadsheets in their daily or weekly schedule. Doing this will reinforce the many uses of math.

Incorporate games involving numbers and math into play. There are many types of games — from flash cards for learning basic math facts to games involving money, time, and logic.

HERE ARE SOME MATH ARTICLES I WROTE FOR HELIUM WITH SPECIFIC GAMES TO PLAY WITH YOUR CHILDREN. http://www.helium.com/items/1183735
-young-children-money-recognition-teaching-count-spend-save-activities-songs-needs-
wants
http://www.helium.com/items/1166822-math-
manipulatives-unifix-cubes-value-of-learning-educational-resources-geometric
http://www.helium.com/items/1160113-
number-fun-skip-count-writing-recognition-activities-digits-poem-add-subtract-
multiply
http://www.helium.com/items/1117913-how-to-help-your-young
-child-develop-math-skills-at-home
http://www.helium.com/items/960547-math-games-for-the-elementary-school
-classroom


Kathy Stemke's websites:
Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/
content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965#http://www.helium.com/users/
406242.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.htmlhttp://kathystemke.weebly.comFollow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/kathystemkeFollow me on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=6147172660&topic=
4910#!/kathymarescomatthews.stemke?ref=profile

BOOKS AND GAMES THAT HELP KIDS LEARN MATH!

Because math concepts tend to be abstract in nature and the traditional methods of teaching math facts are boring and ineffective, introducing interactive math activities will increase the learning and retention of math facts. Students will be eager to participate in these fun-filled games and projects.

COUNTING GAME: A counting lesson might begin with a circle game similar to Duck-Duck-Goose. The students sit in a circle on the floor then one students stands behind a sitting classmate and begins counting each of their classmates in turn until they reach ten. All the students can assist in the counting. When the standing student reaches their tenth classmate the tenth classmates stands and chases the counting student around the circle attempting to tag them before they return to the place of the chasing student.

JELLYBEAN STORY: Students learn through exciting fairy tales and stories. Fun characters come to life for the students, bringing the numbers and math facts to the real world. The following tale is an example of the kind of story that can be used.

“It’s my job, said the jellybean queen, to divide the jellybeans equally among the subjects of Numeria. This bag of jellybeans is for you two girls. Be sure to share them equally.”

“But how can we be sure to share them equally between us?” Chali asked.
“Oh,” the kindly queen said, “That is easily accomplished. Watch. . . . There are six jellybeans in the sack . . . .here is one for you, Chali, and one for you Stephanie, another one for you Chali, and another one for you Stephanie, one more for you Chali, and one more for you Stephanie . . . as you see we now have two piles of jellybeans with 3 in each. It’s as simple as that!” The girls smiled at each other.

The queen was so busy she asked the girls to help her. For the rest of the day, Chali and Stephanie busily counted and divided jellybeans.”
This story could easily be modified to teach subtraction. The students could take turns eating one or two jellybeans.

After illustrating this story on the chalkboard I went outside and hid several piles of "jellybeans" around the room. Whenever a pile is found, the student must divide them equally.

GUESS WHICH NUMBER: You can follow up this activity with a 100 board. Look for number patterns of odd and even. The students will discover that evens end with 2,4,6,8,0 and odds end with 1,3,5,7,9. Call out random numbers and the students can jump up and down for even numbers and hop on one foot for odd numbers.

BIG BALL MATH: requires the teacher to section off a ball into spaces with a marker. Each space houses a math problem (add, subtract, multiply, divide, etc). The children toss the ball to each other, and when they catch it, they answer the problem under their right thumb. For young children the problem can be as simple as identifying numbers or shapes, and for older children a way of practicing multiplication or division facts.

NUMBER LINE GAME: Using a number line system of number placemats across the floor, the team may deduct the answer by acting out the problem. For example. 2 + 3 = 5
Team A organize themselves by standing on number mats on the floor. One stands on zero (0), while the rest stand in order from 1, 2, 3 4 and so on. For the problem 2+3, the person standing at zero may first take two steps on the first two mats and then jump another 3 mats indicating an increase of 3 in the problem to land at mat 5.

SKIP JUMP MATH: Using lighter colored vinyl, cut out shapes, (circle, square, rectangle, triangle, pentagon) number them with a marker, and tape them to the floor. The students jump from shape to shape, saying each number as they land. The children can skip count by 2's, 3's, 4’s,etc. They can jump in ascending or descending order. They can jump on even or odd numbers only. They can jump on circles only, or squares only.

BOOK SUGGESTIONS:

“Making Math Meaningful” by Nettie Fabrie, Wim Gottenbos, and Jamie York. A Scource Book for Teaching Math in Grades One through Five

“String, Straightedge and Shadow” by Julia E. Diggins. Using only three simple tools - the string, the straightedge, and the shadow - men discovered the basic principles and constructions of elementary geometry more than two thousand years ago. This book reveals how these discoveries were made and shows how they were related to the early civilizations of Mesopotamia, Egypt and Greece.

“Moving through all Seven Days” by Kathy Stemke

“Jump into Math” by Rae Pica. The activities in each chapter are organized by level of difficulty, and each one incorporates fun, exciting math experiences with movement.

“Learn to Count 1-10 with Professor Hoot” author, artist: Eugene Ruble.

“Shaping up the Year” author: Tracey M. Cox, artist: Samantha Bell. Uniquely illustrated with cut out art. Teaches shapes, colors, and counting with activity pages, too.

Kathy's websites:
Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965#http://www.helium.com/users/406242.htmlhttp://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.htmlhttp://kathystemke.weebly.comFollow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/kathystemkeFollow me on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=6147172660&topic=4910#!/kathymarescomatthews.stemke?ref=profile

MY ACTIVITIES IN LEARNING EVERY DAY SERIES BY GRYPHON HOUSE!!

Two of my Earth Day Activities have been published with Gryphon House in their new release, Learn Every Day About Our Green Earth. Take a look!

A TO Z: LET'S GO GREEN! page 55

Arrange a wildlife refuge in your backyard with a birdbath, nest building project, bird feeder, and plants that attract birds and other animals.
Bicycle instead of using a car.
Create posters about caring for the earth.
Don't leave water running when brushing your teeth or bathing.
Eat organic foods.
Feed the birds.
Grow a flower or vegetable garden.
Hold on to your helium balloons that can hurt animals when they fall to the ground.
Insulate your home by blocking drafts by doors and windows.
Join with your friends to clean up the neighborhood.
Keep stuff in a box until you can reuse it.
Light your home with compact fluorescent bulbs.
Make scratchpads with old paper.
Nurture the soil with coffee grinds, eggshells and other compost.
Omit aerosols from your shopping list because they damage the ozone layer.
Plant a tree.
Quit wasteing food.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!
Stop throwing out old toys. Donate them instead.
Turn off the lights.
Use paper on both sides.
Visit a recycling center to see all the different things that can be recycled.
Write a letter to the newspaper encouraging your neighbors to recycle.
eXercise your body while collecting tin cans.
Yell "I love the Earth."
Zero in on helping the earth!

What to Do:

As you teach each letter, introduce a green idea, a green project, and sing the Whole World Green song.

Examples:
Feed the birds-make a bird feeder.
Grow a garden-tin can herbs.
Hold on to helium balloons-helium balloon craft.
Join your friends to clean up your neighborhood-make a trash monster.
Plant a tree-make a thankful tree.
Rethink, Reuse, Recycle-make old ice cream containers into bluilding blocks.
Visit a recycling center-become a human recycling machine.
Yell at a litterbug-make a litterbug.

Song: Whole World Green (Tune: Mary Had a Little Lamb)

I will make my whole world green,
whole world green, whole world green,
I will make my whole world green
G-R-E-E-N, Green!

HOPPING BIRD! page 61

Preparation:
Cut different shapes out of the vinyl. (Square, triangle, rectangle, circle, oval)
Make them large enough for children to jump on.
Use either black permanent marker or black tape to number the shapes.
Tape the shapes to the floor to prevent accidents.
Discuss how little birds hop around instead of walk.

What to Do: Tell the children to be little hopping birds!
1. Jump on each shape and identify it.
2. Walk on each shape and say the number.
3. Jump from one to ten, saying each number as you go.
4. Jump on the even numbers only.
5. Jump on the odd numbers only.
6. Skip jump by fives. (5, 10, 15, 20, 25,…)
7. Skip jump by tens. (10, 20, 30,…)
8. Skip jump by twos or threes.
9. Walk backwards on the shapes and count backwards.
10. Jump and recite the numbers backwards.
11. Hop on one foot.
12. Jump hands on the shape then the feet on the shape.

Kathy Stemke's websites:
Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965#http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html
http://kathystemke.weebly.com
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/kathystemke
Follow me on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=6147172660&topic=4910#!/kathymarescomatthews.stemke?ref=profile

SPIDERS!

Click on the image to enlarge, copy and print.

Spider Facts

Spiders are not insects. Insects have three body parts and six legs.
Spiders have eight eyes, eight legs, two body parts, outside skeletons, and fangs. They do not have antennas or wings. Males are smaller than the females.
Spiderlings are baby spiders that hatch from silk covered egg sacs. Each kind of spider knows how to spin a certain pattern of a web when it hatches.
Spiders eat millions of insects a year. They create beautiful webs and are useful.
Not all spiders spin webs.

Spiders are oviparous, which means their babies come from eggs.The Spider Poem

Spiders are not insects,
Spiders have eight legs,
Spiders have four pair of eyes,
Spiders hatch from eggs.
Spider webs are sticky,
Spiders weave them tight,
Spiders spin that silky string,
Spiders weave webs right!

I'm a Little Spider
(sung to I'm a Little Teapot) by Sue Brown

I'm a little spider, watch me spin.
If you'll be my dinner, I'll let you come in.
Then I'll spin my web to hold you tight,
And Gobble you up in one big bite!

"Crawl Like a Spider" (sung to the tune of "Ten Little Indians")

Crawl, crawl, crawl like a spider.
Crawl, crawl, crawl like a spider.
Crawl, crawl, crawl like a spider.
Crawl around your web.
Replace the action word with: jump, run, creep, sneak, pounce

Crafts

Spider Marble Painting

Place an 8x8 inch square of black construction paper in a box lid. Dip a marble in white paint and drop it onto the paper. Roll the marble around by tilting the lid. Continue until you have a spider web.

SPIDERS HAND PRINT

If you have the children trace their hands with white crayons on black paper and you cut off the thumbs you will have eight legs by gluing the two palms together. They can create the faces on their own or you could take their photo and cut their face out for the spider face.

Spider Mask

What You Need: Paint Paper Plate Yarn Garbage Bag

Paint a large paper plate black, next hole punch 4 holes 2 on each side of the mask near the edge of the plate. Then from a clean black garbage bag cut four 16 inch strips. Help the child thread a strip through each small hole in his plate and tie the strip in the center, it will make the spiders eight legs, glue a large craft stick on the back of the mask.

Cooking

Marshmallow Spiders For each spider, use one large marshmallow for the body and one small marshmallow for the head (attach with 1/2 a toothpick). Make eyes from mini M&Ms, legs from pretzel sticks. Cover with chocolate sauce, if desired.

Math Project

Give students a blank spider web with a number on the side of the sheet - 1-10.
Kids make the same number of spiders on the web. They use use their thumbs with an ink pad and then add eight little legs.

A to Z Teacher Stuff: http://www.atozteacherstuff.com/Printables/Spiders/index.shtml

Kids Zone (spider activities): http://www.kidzone.ws/lw/spiders/activities.htm

Miss Spider
http://www.noggin.com/shows/miss_spider.php?source=SEO_SSP_Y&sem=SEO_SSP_Y

Kathy Stemke's websites:
Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965#http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html
http://kathystemke.weebly.com
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/kathystemke
Follow me on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=6147172660&topic=4910#!/kathymarescomatthews.stemke?ref=profile

HeliumMath games for the elementary school classroom

******************************************************************************Kathy's websites:
Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965#http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html
http://kathystemke.weebly.com

Homeschool Money Unit

HeliumHomeschool unit study - beginning money and economics

Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965#http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html
http://kathystemke.weebly.com

Assessing the Value of Learning Math by Using Manipulatives

Manipulatives are any various objects designed to be moved or arranged by hand as a means of developing motor skills or understanding abstractions, especially in mathmatics. Children can use these manipulatives to get concret pictures of abstract concepts. Research indicates that the best way for students to learn is in three phases: first, by seeing the mathmatical concepts in a concrete, hands-on way; second, by drawing pictures that represent the same things as the concrete; and finally, by moving to the abstract, theoretical concepts.

The use of manipulatives would be essential for the first phase of learning.
Everything we know about young children dictates that early math programs must be concrete, filled with play and exploration. It's commonly believed that when you hear something, 10% of the information is retained. If you see it, hear it and say it, 40% is retained. But, if you also handle it, you retain 70%-100% of the information. Using math manipulatives, handling concrete objects helps the student to learn and retain abstract concepts in math.

TO READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE WITH MANY PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK:
http://www.helium.com/items/1166822-math-manipulatives-unifix-cubes-value-of-learning-educational-resources-geometric

Kathy Stemke's websites:
Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965#
http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html
http://kathystemke.weebly.com