Just like most fields of study, Math has its own language. Using the Language of Math helps children build and express their understanding of math concepts. Using correct math terminology boosts concepts, but it also boosts confidence! Children need multiple opportunities to use math talk in a variety of low-stake activities to strengthen mathematical thinking and language use. If symbols are introduced too early with no conceptual understanding, the words are abstract with no meaning.
Here are some tips of how to naturally “talk math” with your child:
– Let children wrangle with math questions, encouraging persistence to show children that some problems take time to solve. Don’t jump right in with the solution to the problem; children need to figure out why answers are what they are.
– Talk about math in a positive way, it’s infectious! Be aware of how you talk about math; negative attitudes about math breed a lack of confidence in children.
– Connect math to everyday life by using “math talk.” Talk about quantity, patterns, angles and lines, part versus whole, counting, ratios, probability, and shapes.
– Math exists in the real world. Help your child discover it wherever you go and help them see how math influences them (spatial relations, distance, time, architecture, roller coasters). Even digging a hole makes a great lesson in volume or negative space.
– Encourage your child to experiment with different approaches to math – there is more than one way to solve!
– Encourage your child to solve math problems in a way that makes sense to them (draw a picture or use materials like dried pasta as manipulatives) and talk about it!
– When your child is solving math problems, ask questions like: “Why did you….? What can you do next? Do you see any patterns? Does the answer make sense? How do you know?”
– Learn and use real math terms (say minus instead of “take away;” for 3.6 – say “three and six-tenths” instead of “three point 6,” etc). Help your child avoid general descriptions like “I took this from that and put this number here.” Give them the language to accurately describe the math.