Questioning in Math

Using effective questions when talking about math, supports the development

of your child’s mathematical reasoning. The use of questioning provides children
with opportunities to share and clarify their ideas, draw conclusions, and explain
and explore new strategies. With good intention, we often rush to provide our
children all the information they need to solve a math problem. By giving your
child this information too quickly, they may not think deeply about the problem
or engage in mathematical processes.

Here is a list of questions you can ask to support your child’s
mathematical thinking:

• How did you solve the problem? 
• What did you do?
• What strategy did you use?
• How did you estimate what the answer could be?
• What would happen if …?
• Tell me what is the same? What is different?
• How do you know?
• How did you know where …?
• How did you know which …?
• How did you know when …?
• How do you know your/our answer is reasonable?
• Would this work every time? Can you/we think of any examples that don’t work?
• Have you/we found all the possibilities? How do you/we know?
• What have you/we discovered about __________ while solving this problem?
• What have you/we learned?

Math Activities During the Winter

Winter break is right around the corner! This is a great opportunity to take time with your child and connect math to the real world. Below are some ideas that will help get you started:

• Grocery shopping can involve money, budgeting, estimating,

adding, subtracting, and measuring

• Cooking can involve weighing, measuring, ordering, estimating,
  adding, and multiplying
• Organizing for a party can mean matching numbers of people to plates,
  cutlery, area of tables, ordering food, and seating arrangements
• Going on a trip by car or plane involves time, distance,
  cutlery, area of tables, ordering food, and seating arrangements
• Completing a half finished symmetrical design using playdough
  (e.g., half a butterfly, tree)
• Building a snowman can involve measuring, spatial reasoning,
  and estimating

These ideas will help your child see the importance of math in their everyday lives
through fun and interactive ways.

http://www.edugains.ca/newsite/math/schoolleader/ideas_for_school_leaders.html

The Ontario Ministry of Education recently released information for families about
Focusing on the Fundamentals of Math.  You can access this information at:
https://math.thelearningexchange.ca/training/
provincial-math-training-learning-modules/parents2/

To find out what your child will learn in math this year or to find other fun activities that you

can do together as a family, please visit http://www.yrdsb.ca/Programs/Math/Pages/default.aspx.  
Be sure to also try our Problem of the Month

Math Problems to Try with Your Child

Problem Solving in Mathematics

Problem solving

At school, students have opportunities to engage in problem solving tasks.

At home, mathematical problem solving can take on many different forms.

For example, budgeting, time scheduling, measuring and constructing

are all situations where children would need to problem solve.

Problem solving, being the process of finding solutions to challenging issues,

is an essential component of your child’s mathematical journey.

As your child works through problem solving tasks at home,

here are some strategies you can encourage them

to use and questions you can ask them:

Strategies:

• Drawing a diagram or picture
• Make a simpler but similar problem
• Use concrete objects to represent the problem
• Use a mathematical model (e.g., ten frame, number line, array, etc.)
• Guess and check
• Look for a pattern
• Work backwards
• Use a formula
• Check your answer - does it make sense?

Promoting a Growth Mindset in Mathematics

“In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment,” (Dweck, 2013)

Before your child can learn mathematics, he or she needs to believe in his or her ability to do so.
That’s where you come in. You can be your child’s 1st role model for learning. When you engage
with your child in a supportive, relaxed atmosphere, your child will enjoy exploring the world of
mathematics.

Doing Mathematics with Your Child, Kindergarten to Grade 6

Activities:

Primary/Junior/Intermediate

Which One Doesn’t Belong is a great activity that promotes mathematical thinking because
there are many “right” answers - it all depends on their reasoning.

Show your child this picture:

Ask them, “which one doesn’t belong? Why?”

For additional images, check out: http://wodb.ca

Another great way to get your child talking about math is using images and questions from
Estimation 180. This website has a series of images and encourages children to think about
answers that are too high, too low and just right (Goldilock estimates).

Here is an example:

How many total cheese balls in the six containers?

For additional images and prompts, please see: http://www.estimation180.com/

To find out what your child will learn in math this year or to find other fun activities that you can do together

as a family, please visit http://www.yrdsb.ca/Programs/Math/Pages/default.aspx.  Be sure to also try our:

Problem of the Month

Math Resource Bags

Dear Families,

We would like to share a math resource bag with all of our JVPS families.  This resource bag went home with students on Monday April 3, 2017.  We are hoping that parents will use the resource bag to continue to help their children to inspire them and support them at home when engaged in math activities.  The resource bag was part of a take away for parents from our Parent Math Night on March 30. 

Parent engagement matters. Study after study has shown us that student achievement improves when parents play an active role in their children’s education and that good schools become even better schools when parents are involved. 

Again, we hope this math resource bag will provide useful suggestions for parents and that students will benefit from and enjoy studying mathematics.

Parent Math Night at JVPS

Our Parent Math Night was a great success.  Parents received many tips on how to work with their children at home to continue to inspire their children to love math.

Parents learned to:

• establish consistent homework routines
• engage their children in math talk about what the children learn in class
• encourage their children to take risks and explain their problem-solving skills

For parents who attended the Math Night, if you have not already filled out the feedback survey for the Parent Math Night, please follow the link below to complete the survey.

bit.ly/JVPSMathNight

Ontario Dedicating $60 Million for Renewed Math Strategy

At Johnsview Village P.S. we have a strong focus on math.  For example:

• We currently have 60 minutes dedicated to a math block and that will continue for next year
• Our upcoming PA Day on May 6 will have a math focus
• Our school is currently partnering with two other schools to focus on math
• We are looking at a Parent Engagement evening next year with a math focus
• We will be instituting two numeracy coaches for September

Province Helping More Students Achieve Excellence in Numeracy

Ontario is dedicating more than $60 million to help support students across the province achieve better results in mathematics.

Math is a critical requirement for the jobs of today and tomorrow. Starting next September, key elements of the renewed strategy will be introduced including:  

• A minimum of 60 minutes each day of protected learning time for effective mathematics instruction and assessment for students in Grades 1 to 8
• Up to three math lead teachers in all elementary schools
• Coaching for principals of select secondary schools to lead improvement in math among their students
• Support for learning at home through parent resources that provide helpful tips and information on the mathematics curriculum  
• Better access to online math resources and math supports such as Homework Help or SOS Devoirs
• Math support for Grades 6 to 9 outside of the school day
• Opportunities for educators to deepen their knowledge in math learning, teaching and leading, including a dedicated math Professional Development Day to further their school improvement efforts.

The renewed math strategy is informed by research and lessons learned from the education sector. It focuses on the needs of students, their families, educators, schools and district school boards and encourages a shared responsibility to support student learning.The strategy also supports Ontario's renewed vision for education with its focus on achieving excellence in math.

Helping students achieve success in mathematics is part of the government's economic plan to build Ontario up and deliver on its number-one priority to grow the economy and create jobs. The four-part plan includes investing in talent and skills, including helping more people get and create the jobs of the future by expanding access to high-quality college and university education. The plan is making the largest investment in public infrastructure in Ontario's history and investing in a low-carbon economy driven by innovative, high-growth, export-oriented businesses. The plan is also helping working Ontarians achieve a more secure retirement.

QUOTES

" While Ontario’s math results are quite good compared to other jurisdictions, we know that we have more to do. Our renewed math strategy takes the latest research and what we’ve learned from our successful journey to improve literacy, and applies it to improve math outcomes."
- Liz Sandals
Minister of Education

QUICK FACTS

• As part of the 2012 Program for International Student Assessment, Ontario students performed at the Canadian average and above the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average in mathematics, reading and science.
• However, from 2009-10 to 2013-14, EQAO Grade 3 mathematics results declined by four percentage points and Grade 6 results declined by seven percentage points.
• Since 2014, Ontario has supported more than 6,000 teachers to earn additional qualifications in math.

LEARN MORE

• Mathematics: a parent’s guide
• Homework Help: free online math supports
• Resources for parents and students