“How can I help my child at home with mathematics?”
When your child brings home math homework, you can ask the following:
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What strategy did you use to solve this problem and why?
Was there anything about this problem that was confusing to you and why?
Tell me about your representations and strategies for solving this problem.
How did you solve this problem? Why did you use that strategy?
How did you get that answer? Can you explain your thinking for me?
Is there another strategy that you can use to solve this problem?
Show me your thinking by using pictures, numbers, and words.
Students are proficient in mathematics if they can do the following:
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See connections between different concepts in math.
Know many ways to solve a problem.
Are confident when solving a problem.
Apply previous knowledge to new situations.
See how math connects to other content areas and the world.
Can verbally explain answers and show different models to explain
answers.
 Know what math to use to help them when confronted with a situation or
problem not seen before.
 Know that accuracy and explanation are more important than speed in
math.
 Understand not only how and when to use an algorithm, but why the
algorithm is the most efficient way to solve a problem.