9.4: Engaging Families

Teachers can use the following strategies to help families to develop their children’s mathematical understanding:

• Communicate to families
  • the broader aspects of developing number sense; for example, using counting in real-life situations, comparing numbers and discussing which is more or less, making estimations (e.g., How many grapes are in this bowl?), and solving simple addition and subtraction problems.
  • what classification and patterning are about and how they contribute to children’s understanding of mathematics.
  • the importance of early measuring experiences and types of measurement experiences they can do with children.
  • that mathematical reasoning is being able to think mathematically and explore different ways of solving problems
• Remind parents that daily use of numbers (which are everywhere!) can become learning experiences for children.
• Provide number-related games and books that children can take home or that families can make or purchase.
• Encourage parents to
  • involve children in everyday measurement experiences
  • refer to shapes in the environment when talking with children
  • use spatial words in everyday interactions with children
  • recognize math in everyday events and interactions and turn them into learning experiences^[1]