Bright Ideas To help your kids learn © 2005 Possibilities, Inc.

Practice makes perfect Doing something is the best way to learn. Let your kids use their math and reading to do everyday things. This helps them understand why they need to know it.

Read, read, read! Books Recipes Magazines Signs If they can’t read, have them find letters or numbers in the words.

Reading tips Talk about what you read Ask questions to see how much they understood If there are pictures, talk about the pictures Have them guess what happens next Have them tell/read you a story

More reading tips Ask what they did and didn’t like about the story For older kids, ask what they thought the character’s motivations were What would they do in the same situation?

Colors Talk about colors in food, clothes, rooms, etc. Sort toys by color or into colored storage boxes. Sort socks by color Use colored paper plates, napkins, utensils

Counting Counting dishes as set table Counting # of jeans, towels, etc. to put in washer Counting socks Counting # of apples to buy Ingredients for cooking Play number games like Skipbo, Monopoly, etc.

Fractions Measuring cups and spoons Reducing/enlarging recipes Splitting restaurant check

In the car Reading map –Estimating distance –Estimating driving time Giving you directions Reading road signs Play games –Find alphabet letters in order on signs or car tags –Find numbers in order

In the car Figuring gas mileage Paying for gas –Getting correct amount of cash –Learning to use credit card Check to make sure charge is correct

Phone Learn how to answer phone Identify numbers by dialing Keep up with cell phone usage (minutes left) Read phone book to find numbers

Cooking Measuring cups and spoons – fractions Enlarge and shrink recipes to teach add/subtract and multiply/divide Read recipes Counting – “beat by hand 50 times” Set microwave/stove – number recognition and reading Setting timer – number recognition Figuring out how to time different things so they are all ready on time

Grocery shopping Meal planning to make grocery list –Choosing menus –Reading ingredients Reading labels Reading ingredients – good practice if allergic to some foods

More grocery shopping Finding items Budgeting Price comparisons – which is better value Size comparisons – which has more

Shopping Budgeting Deciding which store to go to Using map to get there Reading/following directions

More shopping... Money recognition Paying for items –Money recognition –Learning to write checks –Learning to use credit card Check to make sure amount charged is correct

Still shopping! Finding items in the store Finding right size (reading labels) Color recognition Reading prices Estimating sale price from % off –25% off $19.99 is how much? Estimating sales tax

Yard work Identify plants and trees Plant care Learn what plants will grow well in your climate Estimate number of plants needed for the space Budgeting

Family calendar Learning to use calendar Read days of week and months Time for events Estimate when to get ready and leave to arrive on time Learning to write times on correct days

Restaurants & Drive-ins Reading menu Making choices Staying in budget –Don’t forget tax and tip! Ordering Paying Table manners! Conversation

Banking Counting money Making deposits Writing checks Paying bills Balancing bank statements Talking with tellers