Resources

Tips for Parents

Take a MATH hike

You can help your children continue to learn and stay active by taking a math hike. Walk or bike together through your neighbourhood or along one of the many beautiful trails or bike paths in our area. You may want to use a pedometer to track your steps. You can also have children help to plan the outing by discussing how far you might go, how long it will take and how fast you might travel. Children can be math detectives as they consider and discuss some of the following:

?Can you find leaf or petal clusters in groups of 3,4,5,6....?

?Can you find spirals?

?What geometric shapes can you find, manmade or natural?

?What patterns can you see?

?What equations might you use to describe the patterns you see?

?How could you estimate how tall or wide something is?

?Do you see symmetry anywhere?

?Are there arrangements that make it easy to count how many objects you see?

?Can you guess the angles formed by branches or leaves? How did you estimate?

?Do you see numerals anywhere? What do they tell us?

For long lasting fun, take along a camera to capture pictures of the math you see or a notebook to draw and label your discoveries. Other friends or family members can guess what the image is and where the image came from as well as talking about the math that they see! You could even create a collage, scrapbook or slideshow.

Helping Your Child Study

Establish a Routine. Setting a regular time and sticking to it helps children complete their homework assignments.
Set the Mood. Ensure the room your child studies in is quiet, has plenty of light, and has school supplies close at hand. Remove distractions by turning off the television and discouraging social phone calls during homework time.
Show an Interest. Ask your child about school activities and talk about what was discussed in school that day. Take your child to the library to check out materials for homework, and make time to read with your child as often as you can.

Monitoring Homework Assignments

Be Informed. Find out about the school's policy on homework at the beginning of the school year. Ask your child's teachers about the kind of assignments that will be given and what kind of time frame the children have to complete them.
Be Involved. Ask the teacher how you can help with homework. Be available to answer your child's questions, look over completed assignments, and encourage your child to share returned assignments so you can read the teacher's comments.

Providing Guidance to Homework Assignments

Learn How Your Child Learns. Understand your child's learning style and develop routines that best support how he or she learns best.
Encourage Good Study Habits. Help your child get organized. Ensure your child has scheduled enough time to complete assignments.
Talk. Discuss homework with your child. Talking about an assignment can help your child think it through and break it down into small, workable parts.
Provide Encouragement. Find ways to support your child's efforts in completing assignments.

Reading with Your Child

Make Reading a Priority. Let your child know how important it is to read regularly. Establish a regular time and place for reading.
Read to Your Child. Make time to read to your child on a regular basis. It is a great way to help develop a love of learning.
Ask Your Child to Read to You. Have your child read aloud to you.
Keep Reading Material Close By. Make sure children's books and magazines are easily accessible. Keep a basket of books in the family room, kitchen, or your child's bedroom to encourage him or her to read more often.
Visit the Library. Make visits to the library a regular activity and let your children select their own books.
Be a Reading Role Model. Read a lot. Let your child see you read and hear you talk about your books.