Archives for Mathematics
Supporting your child with Mathematics
Date: Monday – January 21, 2013
Time: 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM Location: Loft
Michael is a specialist mathematics consultant from Melbourne, Australia. He is involved in many professional development programs in schools across Australia and Asia.Michael is an enthusiastic and entertaining presenter who has a clear and practical approach to the challenges that confront schools and parents in mathematics. On this evening Michael will address the following issues:
What is my child learning in mathematics?
How can I help my child become an efficient problem solver?
How do children best learn mathematics?
How can parents promote quality thinking and learning?
How can I help my child in mathematics?
How can I help my child become an efficient problem solver?
How do children best learn mathematics?
How can parents promote quality thinking and learning?
How can I help my child in mathematics?
After the success of last year’s well attended, informative, and fun parent workshop, Michael Ymer is back again to help parents understand the role of Mathematics in our everyday lives. He will also focus on helping parents in understanding the way Mathematics is taught in schools. He will, with true Australian humor and poise, help us uncover what inquiry is, how inquiry can help us all become better mathematicians and how parents can help their children to be natural mathematical inquirers at home.
To register for this event please email our elementary Mathematics Coordinator, David Goddard goddardd@yis.ac.jp to confirm your attendance.
Math Specialist to hold Elementary Parent Workshop
As a parent, do you find yourself asking:
- What is my child learning in mathematics?
- How can I help my child become an efficient problem solver?
- How do children best learn mathematics?
- How can parents promote quality thinking and learning?
- How can I help my child in mathematics?
If so, then please come along to our Mathematics workshop for Elementary parents on Tuesday February 7th 2012, from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM in the Loft.
The international presenter will be Michael Ymer, a specialist mathematics consultant from Melbourne, Australia. He is involved in many Professional Development programs in schools across Australia and Asia. Michael is an enthusiastic and entertaining presenter who has a clear and practical approach to the challenges that confront schools and parents in mathematics. On this evening Michael will address the following issues
Parents are welcome to register for this event by emailing goddardd@yis.ac.jp to confirm their attendance.
tags: elementary, Math
Dan Meyer: Math class needs a makeover
Here are a couple of inspirational TEDtalks videos about Mathematics. The great part about watching these is that at YIS, we have been adapting our programme and teaching methods for many years and a lot of what these guys are saying about what is wrong with Mathematics in schools does not apply to our programmes or to our teaching philosophy. We have made great efforts to develop an inquiry driven programme here at YIS that is dynamic, based on real world problems and will equip our students with the tools they will need to be successful and confident in their lives and careers.
ES Parents Workshops on MATHEMATICS
On Tuesday November 15, 2011, parents of Kindergarten – Grade 2 are invited to attend a workshop hosted by Mr. Goddard, Maths Coordinator and Grade 5 teacher, and Ms Page, Kindergarten teacher.
Time: 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
Location: Cafeteria
On Thursday November 17, 2011, parents of Grade 3-5 are invited to attend a workshop hosted by Mr. Goddard, Maths Coordinator and Grade 5 teacher, and Mr. Geddes, Grade 4 teacher.
Time: 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
Location: Cafeteria
Contact: David Goddard goddardd@yis.ac.jp
How to help your child at home with Maths
How to help your child at home
Here are some general tips to ensure your child feels comfortable when using the language of mathematics:
Try to make maths as much fun as possible – games, puzzles and jigsaws are a great way to start. It’s also important to show how we use maths skills in our everyday lives and to involve your child in this.
Identifying problems and solving them can also help your child develop maths skills. If you see him or her puzzling over something, talk about the problem and try to work out the solution together.
Don’t shy away from maths if you didn’t like it at school. Try to find new ways to enjoy the subject with your child.
Specific tips for helping your child to enjoy maths:
* Point out the different shapes to be found around your home.
* Take your child shopping and talk about the quantities of anything you buy.
* Let your child handle money and work out how much things cost.
* Look together for numbers on street signs and car registration plates.
* Play games involving numbers and/or logic, such as card games, dominoes, darts, draughts, chess etc.;
* Stimulate your child’s thinking at times of boredom, (such as when travelling), with mental activities;
What do you do at home?
At the recent mathematics workshops we asked how you help your children at home. An original and extensive and list was generated, showing that we have a well-informed, active and knowledgeable parent body.
- Cooking
Measuring, converting, following procedures, accuracy.
Setting the table for guests.
- Money
Planning budgets, prices and change during shopping trips. (You could also compare and measure clothes sizes)
Giving pocket money and developing the idea of saving for something.
Converting money using real exchange rates.
- Time
Using train timetables to make decisions about when to leave the house and when you will arrive.
Using the clock to ask about time
Record exercises (times, reps etc…)
- Online websites
- Games -
Monopoly (Bank manager is a great chance to give responsibility to your child)
Card games
Abacus
Sodoku
Jigsaws
Computer games like Tetris
Rubik’s cube
Building blocks/LEGO – This develops spatial awareness in 3 dimensions.
Riddles
Tangrams
It was also pointed out that in order to succeed in helping your child, you should:
- Stay calm
- Use humour and find relaxed situations in which to talk about mathematical concepts
- Use a range of tactile/visual media….not just memorisation or writing traditional “sums”
- Act like a peer instead of a teacher/expert….pretend that you are learning something new from your child
- If you are making your child memorise or practice “traditional” sums (multiplication tables, or worksheets) try to make them meaningful by providing concrete/hands-on experiences to accompany them or real life situations in which to construct meaning for this highly abstract concept.
Thank-you to everyone who contributed ideas. If you have anything else that you can share please add to this blog as a comment.
David Goddard goddardd@yis.ac.jp
category: Mathematics
Frequently Asked Questions
A big “Thank you!” to everyone who attended the “Grade 3-5 Mathemat
ics Workshop” on Tuesday 16th and “Grade K-2 Mathematics Workshop” on Thursday 18th November.
The workshop was a valuable opportunity for us to communicate our beliefs and practices to the school community and for us to introduce the exchange of ideas and understanding that the Learning Hub will engender. We were once again impressed with the level of participation and understanding shown by our parent body…deep down, everybody loves Maths!
If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to leave them in the comment box below.
Best wishes,
David Goddard
Elementary Mathematics Coordinator
category: Mathematics, PYP News
