Math

If you have Internet access at home, I encourage you to help your child with www.studyisland.com   Please contact me to get your child's username and password.

1st grade:- Estimation is a difficult skill for small children.  Collect 3-25 objects (of the same kind).  Put 5-10 objects in one bag and tell your child how many are in the bag.  Ex "This bag has 7 erasers."  Now, get a second bag and fill it up with erasers (any amount up to 25) and tell ask your child to make a guess as to how many objects are in the 2nd bag.  The guess needs to be reasonable.  Example problem: bag 1= 7, bag 2= 13. Please help your child see that if the first bag has 7 (show them how much space 7 objects take up in the bag) then the objects in the 2nd bag take up more space so they should not guess any number 7 or below.  This takes a lot of time and practice.  Don't get discouraged if your child is struggling.  Practice doesn't make perfect, but it sure helps! 

 You might want to begin praticing addition/subtraction facts up to 10.  (6+2=8, 9+1=10, 10-3=7, 6-1=5)  These should be FAST facts. Timed math tests will begin in January. It is imperative that your child learn to add and subtract without counting on their fingers!! 

2nd grade:

We have not begun to memorize math facts to 18 yet.  However, it would be a good idea for him to practice every night.  You can find many addition/subtraction worksheets on this website http://www.math-drills.com  click at the top what you want (addition/subtraction) then look down towards the bottom of the page to find the worksheets.  You can give him one minute timed tests.  For now as  your child learns to add numbers larger than 10, have him/her put the larger number in their head (7+8= put 8 in your head then count on 7 more and that will be your answer) and then count on  Your child needs to learn to add/subtract to 18 without using their fingers to add.  If your child is not successful with facts to 10, facts to 18 will be VERY difficult.