Seeking to build on their math knowledge to better support their children at home, more than 100 Mount Vernon Preschool โ grade 6 parents went back to class. Math class. Texas-based external math expert and national consultantย Garland Linkenhoger, whoย has been working with Mount Vernon teachers and students for four years, spoke to parents while at the School meeting and consulting with facultyย across divisions. She encouragedย parentsย to getย backย to the basics and rebuild the framework on which all mathematical concepts hinge. In her own words, she โhelps math make sense because it is is sensible.โ
As the School began creatingย Research and Design teams around differentย subject areas to create the Mount Vernon Learning Outcomes, the School identified a need forย external expert to help evaluate and align our curriculum to meet the highest mathematical standards and give our students a rich numeracy experience PS – 12. Teachers’ understanding of math has grown so much over the last few years, that we decided it was time to invite parents to be a part of the conversation. Those who attended wanted to better connect with theย approach to mathematics at Mount Vernon and to have a window into the types of learning experiences that happen daily to build studentsโ number sense and problem solving strategies. In two separate Parent University workshops, math for Preschoolers through second gradeย and thirdย through sixth grades, parents took a journey through numeracyย to learn how they mightย enhance, strengthen and reinforce theirย childrenโs problem solvingย habits.
Garlandย shared a few common misconceptions, โYears ago in elementary schoolย we were taught rules. That whenever you multiply two numbers, the product will always be greater. While this is true for second grade math, it is not true when you get to Middle School and start multiplying fractionsย and theย product isย reduced. No wonder we were so confused! Kids donโt need to memorize the rules. They need to understand the process, the how.โ
Armed with laminated graph paper, dry erase markers and bins of manipulatives: number units in values of single 1-unit cubes, 10-rods,ย 100-flats and 1000-cubes, parents began to relive first grade by building rows and groups toย demonstrate place value and organization, just asย our children are experiencing math, today. By stripping away the weight of rules, and examining the simplicity of blocks, Garlandย creates an environment that reduces stress and builds confidence to solidify a strong foundation of numeracy.
Garlandโs strategy is simple. She says, โMath is precise. There is always a geometric structure associated with mathematical combinations. Letโs forget the rules that were taught us that made math scary. Multiplication is as easy as rows (number of groups) by columns (items in the group).โ
Advice from Garland:ย
- Use facts that you know. Build from the top of your comfort level.
- Keep the values of numbers consistent: 1237 + 597 = 1000+200+500+90+30+7+7
- Start with estimations and reasonableness. Instead of multiplying 189 x 7, exactly, round 189 to 200, multiply that by 7 to get in the ballpark, then zoom in.
- Create an area model: 4 7โs and 4 50โs is much easier to build in your head than 57ร4.
- Once you have a firm handle on the basics, the rest falls into place.
- Never, never, never let your child hear you say, “I don’t like math.” or “I am not good at math.”
Parent quotes:
โGarland understands building number sense. My kids are learning math differently than I did โ they have a stronger knowledge base of mathematicalย conceptsย and are comfortable approximating. They then problem solve to zero in onย their estimation.โ
โThe accompanying books are extremely helpful. The explanations put things in to perspective, making itย easy to see how two children can look at the same thing and see something different.โ
โI never felt comfortable withย math, and would panic when having to help my children. However, after hearing from Garland and being remindedย how truly basic the elements are, I am no longer fearful andย can better help my children!โ
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