It’s Almost Summertime!
I realize that summer is a time for rest and relaxation, so
that should be your number one priority. I also realize that some of us are
rather industrious and would like a few suggestions for making sure math skills
do not diminish significantly over the break, so I am offering up some tips and
pointers that will only take a few minutes a day. These are activities you can
do with your child on those lengthy vacation car trips or even in the moments
before they run outside to play. Be creative and they won’t even realize they
are learning!
·
One of the key
skills in math is a familiarity with the number line. Quiz your student on
saying the numbers from a certain point. Ask them to start at 6 and count to
21. Or to start at 16 and count backwards to 8. These little quizzes will get
their brain thinking from a more mathematical standpoint.
·
Skip Count- Ask
them to count by 5’s or 10’s (more advanced students can count 2’s, 3’s, or
25’s). Ask them to start from 30 and count by 5’s to 65. 
·
Counting Cars-
Easy one to do in the car. Ask them count all the blue cars or all the cars
with Texas
license plates. Have them make a mark on a piece of paper for each car they see
and count them up at the end of the ride. Making it into a game will make this
much more fun! Counting can be applied to anything. Ask them how many M+M’s
they think are in a package and then help them count. More advanced students
can make a small table of how many reds, greens, etc.
·
High-Five or
High-Eight- I am a big proponent of high-fives. Try this game next time you are
giving high-fives. Ask them to give you a high-three and have them hold up
three fingers. Try this for numbers 1-10, anything higher than that is probably
too complicated.
·
Play Boardgames-
Boardgames are great for counting and one-to-one correspondence. Have them
count the number on the die and move that number of spaces. Make sure they are
counting out loud if they are having difficulties.
·
Flashcards- The
old staple. Have fun making flashcards for addition, subtraction, and
multiplication. Use them at bedtime, during breaks, or as something that needs
to be done before going on Facebook. These can eventually be an independent
activity. 
·
Allowance- Give
your child a small allowance for doing chores around the house. It can be as
little as a nickel for washing the dishes or a dime for taking out the trash.
Have them count this money and save it for something they really want. Remind
them that different coins are worth different amounts and have them tell you before
you pay them.
·
Change Bank-
Start a change bank at your house. Have them sort and count the coins,
remembering the different amounts that each coin is worth. More advanced
students can make a table of the different types of coins.
·
Go Shopping- Have
them purchase items at the store with cash and then count the change received.
This can be done at any store or even restaurants. Let them tell you if they
have enough money or if they need more.
·
Calendar- During
the summer it can be confusing what day it is without school. Discuss the day
with them. Talk about what holidays and major events are coming up. Have them
count how many days until those events. You can have them mark off the days on
the calendar counting down until school starts.
·
Time- Talk about
what time it is as much as possible or have them wear a watch and ask them for
the time. Keep a set bedtime, lunchtime, etc. and have them tell you what time
those events occur. Make sure they understand the difference between AM
(morning) and PM (night). Ask them what happens at 8 AM and 8 PM.
·
Fractions-
Cooking is a great way to introduce fractions. Talk about ½ cup being less than
1 cup. Show them the difference. Fractions can be used when eating as well. How
many pieces of pizza are there? What fraction of the pizza did you eat? How
many cars are yellow? What fraction of the cars in this parking lot is it?
Remind them that a fraction is a part of something.
·
Worksheets-
Another oldie, but goodie. I’ve provided several varieties of work, but there’s
no reason these can’t be tailored to your needs or others made using a word
processing program.
·
Websites- There
are a lot of great (and free) Internet games for your child to enjoy. Try these
sites:
Multiplication
Quiz
IPad Applications- With the advent of the I-Pad, learning
math can be even more fun with these cool applications: List Provided and created by Ms. Nancy
Group 1 (also Group 2 with *)
Number Monster by learning monster – number sequence
Teach Me-Toddler – letters, numbers, colors, phonics, shapes and
counting
Teach Me –Kindergarten – simple addition, subtraction, spelling and sight
words
* Teach
Me-1st Grade – 1st
grade addition, subtraction, spelling and sight words (this app does
have 2nd and 3rd grade that has all of the above)
* Kids
Math – addition
Junior Bingo by ABCys.com - colors, shape, letters, letter sounds
and number
KG Math HD by Mintmomeg – lots of activites
All four Groups
Jungle Coin – all groups
Jungle Time – all groups
Telling Time by My Turn Mobile
Groups 2, 3 and 4
Math Bingo by ABCya.com –addition, subtraction, multiplication,
division and mixed
Adventures Undersea – addition
Hungry fish – adding bubbles and feeding the fish
NeoMaths + by TuTApp (there are four apps addition, subtraction,
multiplication and division
Touch Spot Addition by iLEAP Series
Touch Spot Subtraction by iLEAP Series
Next Dollar Up
Group 3 and 4
Math Splat
iFlash Math
Math Quiz 1-3 gr. by Lakeshore
Math Quiz 4-6 gr. by Lakeshore
Neo Maths + - there are four apps in this series
Neo Maths –
Neo Maths x
Neo Maths ‘/,
