Math Do’s and Don’ts…
• Do ask your child’s teacher about the kinds of help that you as a parent can provide.
• Do encourage a child to restate what a mathematical word problem is all about. Putting it in the child’s own words will help clarify it.
• Do make sure that “home” math has a noticeable problem-solving flavor. It should contain a challenge or question that must be answered.
• Do use objects that your child can touch, handle, and move. These things are called manipulatives.
• Do find out what kind of mistakes your child makes in arithmetic.
• Do reward your child with praise for the correct answers.
• Don’t tell your child that some people are “no good” in math.
• Don’t think that girls aren’t as good in math as boys.
Math Essentials…
• Understanding. The child must understand the steps involved in working and solving math problems.
• Practice. This means practicing the base skills - addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, and decimals.
• Seeing Patterns. Children need to see patterns and regularity in math and ways of organizing mathematical information.
Reading Tips…
• Read aloud.
• Teach alphabet letters.
• Provide a place to read.
• Provide materials. Have plenty of paper, pencils, chalkboards, and crayons for your child to use for drawing and writing.
• Provide records and tapes.
• Help your child to relate educational television programs to other situations. Example, if the show focuses on the letter “B”, relate it to other things that start with that letter.
• Use computers.
• Make a scrapbook.
• Visit the library.
• Have a reading hour.
• Stay involved.
Children who read well usually have parents that…
• Read aloud to them
• Talk to them about their ideas and experiences
• Take them places
• Let them watch television but limit it
• Take an interest in their reading progress
Test-Taking Do’s and Don’ts…
• Don’t be too anxious about a child’s test scores. Too much emphasis on this can upset a child.
• Do encourage children. Praise them for the things they do well.
• Don’t judge a child on the basis of a single test score. Test scores are not a perfect measure of what a child can do.
• Do meet with your child’s teacher as often as possible to discuss his/her progress.
• Do make sure your child attends school regularly.
• Do provide a quiet, comfortable place for studying at home.
• Do make sure that your child is well rested on school days and especially the day of a test.
• Do give your child a well rounded diet. A healthy body leads to a healthy, active mind.
• Do provide books and magazines for your child to read at home.
Writing Pointers…
• Provide a place. It’s important for a child to have a good place to write.
• Have the materials. Provide plenty of paper-lined and unlined-and things to write with, including pencils, pens, and crayons.
• Allow time. Help your child spend time thinking about a writing project or exercise.
• Respond. Do respond to the ideas your child expresses verbally or in writing.
• Don’t you write it! Don’t write a paper for your child that will be turned in as his/her work.
• Praise. Take a positive approach and say something good about your child’s writing.
Studying…
• Your children need a place to study. It can be a desk in a bedroom or the kitchen table. But it must be fairly quiet with good light.
• Children also need a time for studying. Help your child create schedules. These schedules should be flexible enough to allow trade-offs and shifts when necessary.
• Previewing material. Encourage children to begin an assignment by previewing the material.
• Reading and thinking. When reading the chapter, they should try to fit details into their “mental map.” This is a time to use strategies such as- self-talk, positive images, and questions.
• Taking notes. Children can’t remember everything they read, it would help them to take notes of the main points.
• Self-Testing. Children should test themselves to see what they know and don’t know.
• Preparing for Tests. Encourage your children to prepare for tests by spacing studying over days or weeks. |
