[6] June 3, 2011
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...TODAY’S parent Keep your child’s math skills sharp during summer
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and time with friends and family. However, kids can regress in their math competency during this period. The flexibility of summer and lack of school deadlines makes it a great time to get ahead on math skills. Kids who practice summer math will have an easier time transitioning back to school in the fall. This might just mean a simple activity just a few times each week. These can be simple parent-and-child activities with the goal of reinforcing what the child already knows. Don’t be afraid of pushing the envelope a little bit. However, don’t make it an inquisition; instead focus on building confidence. Here are some ideas to help kids from sliding backwards: • Traveling: Encourage kids to calculate costs, average speeds, gas mileage, expected arrival times. Show them how to read a map and help you navigate.
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• Games and puzzles: Set aside times each week to play card and dice games or strategy games requiring calculation and deduction. Introduce your child to KenKen.com and challenge them to do one puzzle each day. KenKen is similar to Sudoku but with math operations. • Math facts: For kids still learning their math facts, think about purchasing a Flash Master (flashmaster.com) as a way to do flash cards. Kids seem to prefer the electronic format. You can also provide worksheets for practice a few times each week. A good source for free worksheets is mathfactcafe.com. Talk about some simple goals and maybe add some incentives if appropriate. Regardless of the age, it’s a good idea to talk with the teacher at the end of the school year to find out what areas might need reinforcement. Also, take a look at the school requirements for next year on the Lake Washington School District website (lwsd.org). One goal might be to build your child’s competency by just focusing on a single math topic throughout the summer. Finally, always provide encouraging feedback when helping your child with math. Avoid negative comments and don’t assume they have completely mastered a topic. Kids can quickly become defensive. Use positive comments and adjust your approach with a simpler exercise if appropriate. The goal is to always build confidence without put downs. If you find you are often frustrating your child, then think about a summer math camp where math experts combine fun and encouragement to gently move the child ahead in their conceptual understanding. Miles Ulrich is the owner of Mathnasium of Redmond. Mathnasium offers summer programs to teach kids “number sense” while mastering math concepts at all grade levels. For more information visit www.mathnasium.com/ redmond or call (425) 885MATH. Miles Ulrich
away from the structure of the classroom. It’s a time for vacations, outdoor activities,
MILES ULRICH Mathnasium
MATHNASIUM
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