Having conversations with trusted adults about math supports children’s mathematical learning. The good news is that there are many opportunities in a family’s busy day-to-day lives that can be used to help develop and enhance children’s math skills. During math conversations, children should hear and be asked to use words that describe quantities, sizes, shapes, and locations. These math words help students notice that math exists in their everyday life.
Adults can engage children in math conversations by asking questions that promote children’s math learning throughout the day, including during meals, while driving, reading, or playing, while taking a bath or brushing their teeth, and even at bedtime. Here are some tips for asking questions that make the most of math conversations.
- Instead of asking yes and no questions, encourage children to use math words. Ask questions that allow students to quantify (tell how many) objects and/or describe shape, size, or location of objects.
- Ask questions about things the children are interested in, “How many chicken nuggets are on your plate? How many would be left if you ate 2 of them?” “How many red blocks did you use when building your tower?” “Make a pattern with your blocks. Tell me about your pattern.”
- Have children compare and contrast things in their environment. “How are a bicycle and a car alike? How are they different?” “What do you notice about the similarities between a grocery store and a gas station? What are their differences?”
Helping children enhance their mathematical skills and thinking isn’t hard, it’s as easy as 1, 2, 3!