For Parents – MATHS WEEK IRELAND

Of course, not everyone will become a top mathematician, but everyone can learn to enjoy maths if we can break that “cycle of fear” associated with the subject.

It’s very important that parents try to avoid passing on negative ideas about maths to their children. Not only do good maths skills open up a range of career options, they are also essential for ordinary everyday tasks such as household budgeting or working out a recipe when baking. See link below for more advice on incorporting learning into everyday household tasks.

Maths in Everyday Household Tasks

Our message to parents and children is that everyone can do well at maths. Yes, it is a challenging subject and can be difficult but, like any challenge, it can be overcome with effort and will bring rewards.

As pictured above Jo Boaler, from Stanford University and CEO of youcubed presents Top Tips for parents as you work with your child.

We LOVE number 10 and 11 in particular! Be sure to check our “Puzzles and Activity” section for inspiration, where you will find pdf files that you can download, print and use at home or wherever you happen to be.

TOP TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Encourage children to think flexibly about numbers
Encourage drawing whenever you can (mathematicians draw sketches all the time!)
When you help your children, do not lead them through step by step, as this takes away important learning opportunities for them.
Encourage children to work on problems that are challenging for them, so that they can learn from their mistakes
Encourage students to make sense of maths at all times (As they work, keep asking does that make sense to you? Why or Why not? Discourage guessing)
Praise children by rewarding effort (not by telling them theyre smart)
Always have a positive outlook on maths
Never time children or encourage faster work
When children answer questions and get them wrong, try and find the logic in their answers
Give children maths puzzles
Play games! (For young children any board game with dice will help)

Growth Mindset

PARENTS we would like to share with you some tips on how you can incorporate some problem solving and mathematical thinking into your daily routine. The Maths Week Problem Solving Philosophy is very much underpinned by the concept of a ‘growth mindset’.
Having and developing a ‘growth mindset’ about maths is a key element in succeeding at maths. The terms ‘fixed mindset’ and ‘growth mindset’ were coined by Dr Carol Dweck to describe the underlying beliefs people have about learning and intelligence. Everyone has a mindset or a core belief about how they learn, and the type a person has, i.e. fixed or growth, impacts on the outcomes they can have in that particular area.
A fixed mindset describes someone who believes that their level of intelligence cannot be changed. They are born with a certain limit on what they can achieve and nothing they do will change this. Somebody with a growth mindset believes that their intelligence can grow depending on the amount of effort they put in.
As adults and teachers, we must be careful about the mindset we have about maths. It is important to note at this stage that maths is not a gene that is passed down from a mother or father. A person can succeed in maths depending on the effort they put in. It is therefore important that, as adults, we are saying and doing the right things to encourage this.
Parents should think carefully about the types of praise they use when practicing maths at home. They should not always praise the child that finishes everything first or gets everything right the first time around. This implies that you must be quick and accurate in maths which is not the case. Maths is about exploring possibilities and so effort needs to be praised. Mistakes are a valuable learning experience and should be acknowledged as such.

Words/phrases that encourage a growth mindset and should be used by teachers and parents include:
How did you do that? Share your method with others
Tell me more
Are you sure?
How do you know?
Wow – that’s great – well done!
That looks like it took a lot of effort.
How many ways did you try before you found the right way?
What do you plan to do next?
Would you change anything if you had to do it again? Why?
How could you simplify the problem? How could you make it more challenging?

Words to avoid using regularly and that will encourage a fixed mindset include:
Smart
Clever
Fast/quick
Best

As always it is about the context in which you give praise and be conscious of the impact you are having on the other children at home when giving praise.
There are several great videos clips on YouTube about Growth Mindset:
Developing a Growth Mindset
Explaining Growth Mindset through an animation

A comparison study on growth and fixed mindsets

Mathematical Thinking for younger children Header Graphic RK 11/1/23

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) have some great ideas to encourage mathematical thinking in younger children:

When you read to your child, frequently include books that present math concepts such as counting, identifying shapes, measuring and comparing.
Sing songs that have numbers in them at bedtime, around the house, on walks and on car rides.
Play board games that encourage counting spaces, matching shapes, counting dots on dice, or other math-related activities.
Use “math talk” with your child. For example, say things such as bigger, smallest, curved, angles, heavy, ball-shaped, square, many, less, same and different.
Count aloud as you go about your day – count plates as you set the table, cans of water as you make juice, coins as you put them in the parking meter.
Remember, children learn about numbers by exploring objects. After they understand the concept of three objects, for example, they can begin to grasp the idea of a picture of three things. The last step is identifying and understanding the numeral “3”.
Encourage your child to make collections. Resist the urge to throw out his “old junk” Collections provide natural opportunities to notice likenesses and differences and to compare objects and sort them into groups

Have your child help you with household tasks. He can help sort laundry, count out plates when setting the table, sort silverware and put it away, and measure ingredients for recipes.
Point out and read numerals to your child that you use in daily life (e.g., say “The big hand is on the 2, and the little hand is on the 6”. “Help me call Grandma. Her phone number is ” . “We are reading page 7”. “Let’s watch Channel 4”.
Play games of make-believe that involve math ideas. For example, playing store involves counting items and money. Playing doctor’s office or clinic encourages taking temperatures and measuring height and weight. Playing post office provides opportunities to organise envelopes, boxes and tubes by size.
Provide toys that encourage your child to explore math ideas: blocks, puzzles, dominoes, pegboards, board games, sandboxes and playground equipment.
Talk with your child about how you use math in everyday life. When you measure ingredients for a recipe, weigh produce at the market, read a map, compare prices, look up a phone number, or address an envelope, talk about what you are doing.
Remember that we learn more from our mistakes than our successes. You want your child to feel confident about using math to solve problems. Allow him/her to explore concepts and ask questions without fear of being criticised.