Nurturing Your Child's Math and Literacy in Pre-KFifth Grade
The Family Connection
By (author) Mary Mueller, Alisa Hindin
Publication date:
23 November 2016Length of book:
292 pagesPublisher
Rowman & Littlefield PublishersISBN-13: 9781475825992
With recent changes in the curriculum and standards in language arts and mathematics, parents often are challenged to find ways to help their children be successful in their learning endeavors. While parents want to be involved in their children’s education, they are often unsure of their role in their children’s learning and the best ways to help their children to succeed academically. Moreover, with the changes in how math and literacy are being taught, parents often struggle with helping even first grade children with their homework.
In this book we set out to alleviate this struggle, by offering parents a resource they can use to navigate their child’s education, communicate with teachers, and support their children in learning mathematics and literacy. After providing an overview of the current educational climate and tips for communication with teachers, we share strategies and suggestions parents can use to assist their children in language arts and mathematics. We provide detailed descriptions of activities, games, books, and conversations that connect with what children will be learning at each grade level.
In this book we set out to alleviate this struggle, by offering parents a resource they can use to navigate their child’s education, communicate with teachers, and support their children in learning mathematics and literacy. After providing an overview of the current educational climate and tips for communication with teachers, we share strategies and suggestions parents can use to assist their children in language arts and mathematics. We provide detailed descriptions of activities, games, books, and conversations that connect with what children will be learning at each grade level.
Researchers and policymakers assert that there is a need for parents and teachers to be in partnership in order for children to be successful academically. As parents strive both to help and advocate for their child, changes in the past decade owing to the adoption of Common Core Standards and Student Learning Objectives present challenging new waters to navigate. Unfamiliar content and methods in mathematics and language arts may leave parents bewildered, so Mueller and Hindin supply specific suggestions for each elementary grade level. Part 1 shows the necessity of parent involvement for growth, while parts 2 and 3 contain ideas for supporting learning through games, books, and activities. The authors also view everyday conversation and situations as a framework for exploring content-rich learning throughout the day instead of isolating educational pursuits to 'school time.' Section 3, devoted to mathematics, serves as a primer as it explains sample problems students might encounter at each grade level in a way that is comprehensible.
Verdict: For parents trying to wrap their minds around Common Core for teaching math and language arts, Mueller and Hindin’s volume might prove a valuable textbook, with practical ideas and strategies.
Verdict: For parents trying to wrap their minds around Common Core for teaching math and language arts, Mueller and Hindin’s volume might prove a valuable textbook, with practical ideas and strategies.