During the 2004-2005, 2005-2006 school years we will be working toward the accomplishment of the following math goal:

Students in first and second grade will show an interest and use multiple methods to solve everyday math problems. Eighty percent of students will demonstrate proficiency as measured by a pre and posttest in 2004-2005 and 84 percent in 2005-2006.

Teachers will incorporate problem solving through subject integration. Each day a problem will be posed and teachers will model effective problem solving techniques. Students will have the opportunity to draw their ideas and respond to mathematical problems in writing. Children are encouraged to use trial and error to test their mathematical reasoning. Sharing their solutions will help them learn different ways to solve a problem.

Your involvement will help us meet our goal and let your child know that everyone can learn math. As you go through your day together there are many opportunities for your child to be involved and see that math is everywhere. Under your guidance your child will be able to practice problem solving skills and see that math is used throughout his or her day.

From making breakfast to finishing your bedtime story opportunities for math abound. Talk to your child as you go through your day and pose open ended questions. Extend your child’s thought process by encouraging your child to explain his or her reasoning. Let your child know that you think math is important and fun.

Try some of these activities and together you will discover many more.

Count everyday items. Count toys, clothing, stairs in your home, steps to the curb, crayons, pencils, and utensils. Count forward and backward. Add more items or take items away.

Keep a calendar at home to show your child important family events and appointments. Encourage your child to find how many days until the event arrives, the day of the week an event will fall, the months in which family birthdays arrive, who’s will come first, second, third.

Play the shape game as you travel in your car. What shapes are the road signs? How many different shapes can you find? Draw and label the shapes on a note pad. How many things can you find that are round, triangular or square. Look for three-dimensional objects like cubes, cone, cylinders and spheres. When putting away groceries, point out that a can is a cylinder, a ball is a sphere.

Ask your child to help with chores that involve sorting and counting. Age appropriate chores might involve sorting laundry, setting the table, or putting away dishes. If everyone comes to the table, how many forks will you need? How many will you need if two additional guests arrive? Help your child organize his or her belongings by common attributes. Stuffed animals can be grouped by size, shape or color, books from tallest to shortest. Look for patterns when selecting clothing. Draw a pattern for another family member to finish.

Keep a change bank. Count and sort coins as you add them to the jar. Count by two’s, fives and tens. Play the coin exchange game. Start with a pile of pennies, nickels and dimes. Roll a die and remove the number on the die. Every time a player gets five pennies, they are exchanged for a nickel, two nickels are exchanged for a dime. Play until you reach one dollar.

Cook together. Share recipes with your child and help them measure the ingredients. What ingredient is first, second, third? How much if you double or triple the ingredients in the recipe? Shop for the items you will need. Which item is the most expensive, least expensive? Approximately how much less, how much more do different ingredients costs? Compare product costs. Is an item greater or less than the store brand?

Estimate the time it will takes to clean up a room or the total cost of items being purchased. Estimate how books will fit on a shelf, spoonfuls to fill a cup, or glasses that a gallon of milk will fill. Create an estimation jar and fill in with different items. Practice sorting, grouping, and counting objects.

Keep track of time. Write down the time of important events and post them on the refrigerator. How many hours until you go to grandma’s? What time will your friend arrive? If you play for two hours, what time will your friend be leaving? Check the time before eating dinner, when leaving the house for school, waking up in the morning, or before leaving for an errand. What time did you return? How long did it take?

Involve your child in the math tools you use such as computers, calculators, thermometers, measuring cups, and scales.

Demonstrate how you find solutions to practical problems, such as, how many bottles of juice are needed for a class celebration or size cake to order for a birthday party.

Incorporate books that support math concepts in your evening read alouds. Ask the librarian to make recommendations. Look for patterns in stories and songs. Encourage your child to predict or repeat patterns.

Replace TV time with family game time.