Quoting the Bedtime Math author Laura Overdeck "we all know parents should read to their kids at bedtime, but what about math?" this book refers to the need for math related topics throughout the children's bed-time books.
As an educator, I could not agree more!
I have often seen parents, saying how they kids struggle with math, how they need help, and LISTEN CAREFULLY now, how they struggle as well with math, and they can not help them. Oh, ok, but you don't need to do their homework, you just need to sit with them when they work on their homework. Just by sitting with them you will bring a tremendous support, and often times that's the only thing that they need.
One crucial, key mistake that parents do is telling their kids, that they were struggling with math! Dear parents, please, I beg you just skip that talk.
I'm not saying to lie them by no chance, but just don't highlight your F's on math.
Your kids are copying you (the evolution processes 'fault) so whatever you do, they will probably do. Whatever you don't do they probably will not do as well.
I even had a case when a student was a proud of the fact that she wasn't fluent in math facts because her mom wasn't either! I mean: Aaaa!
Keep long story short, please don't support your kids in that no-knowledge. If you think that you are not good at math, that was probably because :
1. Your parents weren't willing to work with you additionally (you don't need money to spend for sitting with your child while he/she is doing her homework)
2. Your parents told you you don't need to learn or Good-forbid to damage your brain by learning such an advanced math, or
3.Had traumatic experience with your lazy/scary math teacher.
Don't continue the chain. You have the power to stop that non-sense. I'm not talking about kids with diagnosed difficulties in learning, just to make myself clear.
So, where were we? Oh, yeah... parents should read and talk about math more! If I need to repeat again I will: "Parents should read and talk more about math".
Some books, are good chance for that. Or some of them.
Yes, eventually not every math book is in my opinion good book. The books should be relevant with the chosen topic, them mathematically reviewed, and finally pedagogically revised. The audience are often young children, the most vulnerable category. What I prefer doing is reading a book thoroughly before handing it to a hands of a child or even to the hands of the parent (if it as gift for a kid that still can not read).
Count the numbers of flowers on the road, ask them to help you while measuring ingredients in the kitchen, let them check the change. Eventually let them think of math question for you (you can answer the next day if you need a time to think of or Google to check your answers).
Finally, there are numerous sites containing free math worksheets, including math word problems (not just math-drills). One lovely site is the IXL (you have 10 question per day for free. You can start it, select the wanted grade and pick some world problem skill. You will get a nice math-world-problems question. Other option is to get some math -kids' book, but again you should read the book first, and think of the suitability and interst of you child.
All in all, you are and will be the greatest role in their life, be a good role, by showing interest in reading, and if possible reading math would be fantastic.
Thank you for reading this. I hope you can find useful some of the reviews here on my blog. Just enough so can star you kids-maths-book's journey.
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