PF through third grade
Many children think of math as a “school subject,” irrelevant to life outside of school. By casually “immersing” your child in math, you can help them view math as a powerful language for understanding and appreciating the world around them.
“Children’s play with building and LEGO blocks in the early years has been identified as one of the key reasons for success in mathematics all through school.”
— Jo Boaler, Ph.D.
Key Strategies
- Create a “mathematically rich” environment at home
- Give kids things to play with that naturally draw them into exploring mathematical ideas, e.g. blocks, Legos; shapes of different colors and sizes, beads, nuts and bolts, and puzzles
- Consider also: Cuisenaire rods, Tangrams, and Rubik’s Cube
- Play games and puzzles that involve mathematical reasoning
- Explore Prof. Jo Boaler’s website: Youcubed (youcubed.org). Example: Rabbit Puzzle (www.youcubed.org/tasks/leo-the-rabbit/)
- Ask questions that help children articulate and improve their thinking
- How did you think about this problem? What was the first step? Why did you do it that way? Can you think of a different way to solve this problem?
Additional Resources
Cuisenaire rods (https://www.hand2mind.com/glossary-of-hands-on-manipulatives/cuisenaire-rods)
Tangrams (https://parentingscience.com/tangrams-for-kids/)
Rubik’s Cube (https://kids.kiddle.co/Rubik%27s_Cube)
Book: What’s Math Got to Do with It?: How Teachers and Parents Can Transform Mathematics Learning and Inspire Success, Jo Boaler