Parents, we know you've been given a tall task so we thought we would share some tips to help empower you in supporting your child.
Learning to do Math is about sharing ideas and solving problems. “Math Talk” is a term used to describe sharing, analyzing, and making sense of math.
Math Talk generally happens in a formal classroom setting. However, sometimes this can happen in less formal situations (e.g., sorting out orders for the lunch cart, figuring out how to decorate the room, sharing out Timbits for a class celebration, etc.).
For parents wanting to try some math talk at home, some great questions to ask your child could include:
"Tell me about your idea"
"Why did you choose that strategy?"
"How do you know that works?"
"Can you prove it?"
Quick Tip:
We found this great article in The Conversation about Math Talk that we thought we’d share with you, if you want to try it out at home in an informal way.
Why students need more ‘Math Talk’
Learning to do Math is about sharing ideas and solving problems. “Math Talk” is a term used to describe sharing, analyzing, and making sense of math.
Math Talk generally happens in a formal classroom setting. However, sometimes this can happen in less formal situations (e.g., sorting out orders for the lunch cart, figuring out how to decorate the room, sharing out Timbits for a class celebration, etc.).
For parents wanting to try some math talk at home, some great questions to ask your child could include:
"Tell me about your idea"
"Why did you choose that strategy?"
"How do you know that works?"
"Can you prove it?"
Quick Tip:
- When trying out an idea, avoid judging it - it’s important that your child is able to analyze their own thinking to make their own judgements (ask questions like: Why do you think it worked? What could be improved? What do you like about it?)
Why students need more ‘Math Talk’
