We use words to describe, words to explain, words to solve problems, words to design. We play games like I spy with my little eye using the first letter of a word, yet we rarely ask a child to spy something with a right angle. We play Boggle, but rarely throw 2 dice and ask our children to add up the 2 numbers or subtract 1 from the other. We use a verbal linguistic framework in our interactions with children. We don’t think or speak of Mathematics as often as we should. There seems to be a time and place for it, on a computer, worksheet, counting in our everyday language or some specific Math work. All of which are valid and helpful, however if we pause and rethink we realize that Mathematics is everywhere in our world. We must model thinking mathematically, notice patterns, numbers, use problem solving and play board and card games. Highlight the Mathematics in shopping, gardening, building, experimenting, cricket, athletics, cooking, football, walking, designing and in play.
When your child reads a worded mathematical problem help them to deconstruct it by asking them what we know from the question. How many people were there? How far did they walk? Note this down and then ask them what operation they might use to work out what they don’t know. Will it be addition, subtraction, multiplication or division? Or do they need to use more than one operation.
When travelling somewhere ask them to read the map for you? Where do you turn, which way do you turn? How far do you go? Teach your children to read maps, decipher the Legend and look at the grids. Ask them if we have 80 kms to travel and we average 100 kms per hr how long do you think it will take us to get there? Show them how to read a weather map too?
Every business has a SALE at the moment, engage your children in your purchases, and ask them to do subtraction, addition and percentages. How much will we save off the total? Count with them in doubles, triples, in 7’s and 10’s, take away; add on, divide a cake or a bottle of drink into ¼’s or more. What about a foray into basic algebra, if "a" equals 4 and "b" equals 5 what will "a" and "b" equal? How old is Grandpa? When was he born? How old was he at the turn of the century? What is a century? How much older is Grandpa than Grandma? How old will he be when you are 10 years old?
When watching sport ask your avid cricket fan, how many more runs does the Australian XI need to make? Introduce Roman numerals. Mathematics is everywhere; we can find, explore and enjoy working in this very important discipline. Our responsibility both at home and at school is to focus attention on numbers, measurement, chance and data, and all mathematical aspects of life. By highlighting and talking mathematics we will be able to help every child to become more confident and able mathematical thinkers. It may take a little more effort on our part to engage children in Mathematics in our everyday lives but we will all reap the rewards.