Math Empowers Parents
Middletown Township Public Schools
Grades K-2 ~ 2nd Trimester 2018-2019
Math Empowers Parents, Grades K-2 is a newsletter for parents of children in Kindergarten through Second Grades. Each publication will include information on how parents can support and foster the love of math at home.
DreamBox Challenge
Let's make a New Year's resolution to love math! We will kick off 2019 with a DreamBox Challenge, where the school who demonstrates the most growth can win the district challenge banner. The contest will start January 14th and end February 14th, which is Valentine's Day and the 100th day of school. Check with your building Math Specialist for any building based details and incentives.
Why Kids Should Use Their Fingers to Count in Math Class
"Neuroscientists often debate why finger knowledge predicts math achievement, but they clearly agree on one thing: That knowledge is critical." As Brian Butterworth, a leading researcher in this area has written, "if students aren’t learning about numbers through thinking about their fingers, numbers will never have a normal representation in the brain."
Click here to learn why it is important for children to use their fingers to count when doing math.
WIM 2 Day 5
Winter Math Story Books
Sizing Up Winter by Lizann Flat
As young readers journey into the natural world, they will discover that numbers, patterns, shapes — and much more — can be found in everyday plants and animals. What if animals and plants knew math, just like us? Would snowflakes all fall from the same height in the sky? Would otters spread themselves evenly across lakes? Would groundhogs be aware of the date? In Sizing Up Winter, the third title in the Math in Nature series, nature comes to life to help children grasp concepts of time and measurement.
The First Day of Winter by Denise Fleming
This charming tale is the perfect book for any wintry day—and a fun way to introduce a lot of important mathematical ideas. As a little boy adds more and more trimmings to a snowman on each page, children can chant along and experience the growing pattern: “4 prickly pinecones, 3 striped scarves, 2 bright blue mittens, and a red cap with a gold snap. By the time they reach “10 salty peanuts,” the children are recognizing increases in quantity and the snowman is looking fabulous.
Lemonade in Winter by Emily Jenkins
I know, it sounds crazy to set up a lemonade stand in the snow, but these young entrepreneurs will not be dissuaded. Your kids will be singing a catchy little tune, setting up their own stand and will be counting their change by the time you finish reading.
Winter Math Games!
Snowman Measurement
Children can draw or create different size snowmen with construction paper and/or paper plates. Then, the children can measure each snowman with nonstandard units of measurement (i.e. cotton balls, legos, paperclips). Finally, record the measurements and compare - ask questions such as, "Which snowman is the biggest? How many cotton balls taller is snowman A than snowman B?"
Snowman Numbers
Draw a snowman with 3 circles. Give the children a number to represent (write it on a post note and place it on the head of the snowman). Have the child count out that many "snowballs" (either cotton balls or white pompoms). With the snowballs, the child can make as many different combinations (2 or more addends) to compose the total number that is on the head of the snowman. Extend the learning by having the child record the number combinations as an equation.
Valentine's Day Sorting
Sort conversation hearts from Valentine's Day treats. Count how many in each group and add to find the total number of candies. Make a graph with the hearts to find the number of each color and compare.
Dreambox Corner
- Please click here to learn more about DreamBox's approach to your child's learning and "How a Little Help Can Go a Wrong Way."
- Having trouble logging your child on to DreamBox? Make sure you are using the correct link. This link will get you to the Middletown homepage for DreamBox and from there, you can choose the correct school.
Lisa Cashin
Elementary Mathematics Specialist
Leonardo Elementary School
Catherine Woodle
Elementary Mathematics Specialist
Fairview and Lincroft Elementary Schools