Everyday Math

The Everyday Mathematics program is designed to offer children a broad, rich background in mathematics.  Because of this, children will work on concepts using approaches that are different from the ones you might have learned.  Following are some program highlights.

• A problem-solving approach that uses everyday situations.
• An instructional approach that introduces a concept at the appropriate time and then revisits it throughout the rest of the school year.  (This approach promotes retention of concepts.)
• Partner and group activities that encourage cooperative learning
• Frequent opportunities for the use of appropriate mathematical language
• A variety of "hand-on" experiences with concrete objects, such as base-ten blocks, that are used to represent abstract ideas, such as place value (including decimals).  Children move from concrete objects to pencil-and-paper activities and then to mental math exercises.
• Frequent practice through games.  Games provide a welcome and effective alternative to the countless pages of drill exercises that many of us gr3ew up with.

Parent Letters

In the Everyday Mathematics program your children "do mathematics".  We expect that children will want to share their enthusiasm for the mathematics activities they do in school with members of their families.
        Your child will be bringing home assignments and activities to do as homework throughout the year called "Home Links".    The assignments do not take very much time to complete, but most will involve interaction with you, another adult, or an older child.  Please complete these Home Links worksheets with your child, and sign them at the top.
        There are good reasons for including Home Links in the third grade program:

• The assignments encourage children to take initiative and responsibility for completing them.  As you respond with encouragement and assistance, you help your child build independence and self-confidence.
• Home Links reinforce newly learned skills and concepts.  They allow for thinking and practice at each child's own pace.
• These assignments are often designed to relate what is done in school to children's lives outside school.  This helps tie mathematics to the real world, and this linkage is very important in the Everyday Mathematics program.
• The Home Links assignments will help you get a better idea of what mathematics your child is learning in school.

                 Generally, you can best help by listening and responding to your child's requests and comments about mathematics.  You can help by linking numbers to real life, pointing out ways in which you use numbers (time, TV channels, page numbers, telephone numbers, bus routes, and so on).  Extending the notion that "children who are read to, read" Everyday Mathematics supports the belief that children who are "mathed with", learn mathematics.  Playful counting and thinking games that are fun for both you and your child are very helpful in promoting such learning.

11/16/04 blf

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