Math Right from the Start Presented by : Christine DePinto Lisa Jaramillo Sheila Rivera Lora Wegner Helping your child achieve in Mathematics Pasquale Cocucci, Clarendon School Principal Susan Smahl, Director of Special Services

The goal of this workshop is to give you a better understanding of the importance of Early Childhood Math skills. We want you to be able to assist your child in developing: *An enjoyment of Math *Confidence in his/her Math skills *Problem solving skills *Skills to be successful in school and life

“ A mathematician, like a poet,… is a maker of patterns -Godfrey Harold Hardy (English mathematician)

NUMBERS Count EVERYTHING! Count toys as you put them away Count clothing as you take them out of the dryer Count back and forward as you move from place to place Count and as you walk up and down steps.

Discover many ways in which numbers are used in and outside of the home. Go on a number hunt. Point out numbers on microwave, calculator, television, & telephone Let them dial the phone for you when you place calls to family, friends, or for pizza!

Sing counting songs and read counting books. They capture imagination and interest. They can also be found in many different languages Make up games Let them roll dice and count all the numbers Play with game spinners and make up rules for each number Allow them to play with old calculators and cell phones to increase number and operation awareness Don’t be afraid of numbers – Have fun!

Fun Books to Introduce and Explore Counting More, Fewer, Less by Tana Hoban Feast for 10 by Cathryn Falwell Counting With Apollo by Caroline Gregoire Five Little Monkeys by Eileen Christelow One So Many by Marthe Jocelyn

“Learning is something students do, NOT something done to students.” -Alfie Kohn (author and speaker on Education)

GEOMETRY (shapes and space) Identify shapes, sizes, positions, directions, and movement “Pass the small sugar cube” “Hand me the large rectangular cereal box” Go on a shape hunt

Build structures using blocks or old boxes How many more do we need to add to make this taller than you? Talk about how the pieces stack, roll, and slide Use directional words to find toys “Under”, “Over”, “Up”, “Down” Play “I Spy”

Fun Books to Introduce and Explore Geometry Shapes, Shapes, Shapes by Tana Hoban My Very First Book of Shapes by Eric Carle Bear in a Square by Stella Blackstone Apollo by Caroline Gregoire Elephants Aloft by Kathi Appelt

“Young children are born investigators. It is our job to strengthen that disposition.” -Lilian G. Katz, Ph.D. (Professor, University of Illinois)

MEASUREMENT Measure items around the home Use non-standard measurements like your feet or boxes Compare that item to the height of the child Estimate together Guess together how long it will take to drive home Guess how many steps to your front door

Compare and organize household items Sort items to be put away Have your child line up cans from tallest to shortest Include your child in activities involving measurement Cook recipes together using measuring cups and spoons Talk about weight and how scales work at the doctor’s office Let them help you make, give, and count change

Talk about time Discuss how many minutes you will be in a store Discuss what number the hand of the clock will be on when you are done with an activity Talk about and record daily temperature Mention the change in temperature and how it effects your day’s activities Comment on how many degrees the temperature has increased or decreased

Fun Books to Introduce and Explore Measurement 10 Minutes to Bedtime by Peggy Rathmann The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle Tell Me How Much It Weighs by Shirley Willis Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni How Big is a Foot? By Rolf Myller

“The essence of mathematics is not to make simple things complicated, but to make complicated things simple.” – S.Gudder

PATTERNS AND CHANGE Look for patterns in storybooks or songs Repeating lines and stanzas Reoccurring colors in illustrations Create patterns using musical rhythms Clap out a song Stomp your feet Use simple, repetitious movements

Hunt for patterns around home and neighborhood Find color, shape, size patterns in your clothing Find leaf patterns Explore sidewalk patterns Use household items to create and extend patterns Line up spoons in a repeating order Use different colored napkins and have them finish the pattern

Most things around your home can work without costing too much

Fun Books to Introduce and Explore Patterns and Change Dots, Spots, Speckles, and Stripes by Tana Hoban The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins When I Was Little: A Four Year Old’s Memoir of Her Youth by Jamie Lee Curtis My Little Sister Ate One Hare by Bill Grossman

COLLECTING AND ORGANIZING Sorting household items Clean up time is easier by letting them sort toys They can sort laundry by color Utensils can be put away–drawer organizers help! Keep change jars and let them put away coins by denomination

Make graphs and charts Record weather changes using pictures Record food likes and dislikes Predict outcomes Is it more likely to rain or snow? What games can we play outside in January? June?

Fun Books to Introduce and Explore Collecting and Organizing Is It Rough? Is It Smooth? Is It Shiny? By Tana Hoban Ten Puppies by Lynn Reiser The Button Box by Margarette Reid Five Creatures by Emily Jenkins

More information is available at: ASPX