UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT OF DIVISION IS IMPORTANT
My son is struggling with division. How can I help my child to understand the concept of division? – Concerned
Answer: With the access of inexpensive calculators there is no need today for children to possess the skills to solve long division problems. However, it is very important for children to develop the concept of division and to understand the division algorithm. Here are some hands-on ways that will help your son understand division.
Give Everyone the Same: Have your child count out 12 beans. Of these 12, have him count out 4 beans and place them in a tub. Have him count out 4 more beans and place them in another tub. Continue this process until all 12 beans have been placed in a tub. Ask your child, “How many tubs contain beans? In this case, 3 tubs contain beans.
Once you have finished counting out the beans, it is time to show your child the mathematical relation between division and multiplication. Point out that the divisor (the number that divides another number), 4, and the quotient (the answer to a division problem), 3, are the factors in the multiplication problem.
First, have him write out what he has done as a multiplication problem: (number of tubs of beans times number of beans per tub equals number of beans). He will write 3 x 4 = 12. Then he should write out the division problem which is number of beans divided by the number of beans per tub equals the number of tubs with beans. This time he will write 12 ÷ 4 = 3. Repeat this activity using 16, 24 and 36 beans.
Everyone Shares Fairly: Expand your son’s knowledge of division by having him count out 12 beans again and divide them equally between 4 tubs. Ask him, how many beans are in each tub. Then have him write out what he has done as a multiplication and then a division problem. Repeat using 16, 24 and 36 beans and the 4 tubs.
These activities use the partition model to develop the concept of division. It answers the question “If a number of things are to be shared equally among a number of sharers, how many things would each sharer get”.
INCREASING VOCABULARY TRICKS
Question: My son currently is in fourth grade. How can he increase his vocabulary? – Needs Words
Answer: Children pick up new words and their meanings in two major ways, through listening and through reading. Starting in fourth grade, new and unfamiliar vocabulary is introduced in all subjects, especially science and social studies, building a foundation for future learning.
Mastery of these words is absolutely essential to understanding the material. This task is much easier for the good listeners in every classroom. Children who don’t listen in class are always playing catch-up in learning vocabulary.
Building children’s vocabulary does not just occur at school. The more you talk to your children, no matter what their age, the larger their vocabularies will be, because parents use far more challenging words than children’s peers. We doubt that we have to sell you on the advantages of having a good vocabulary, from higher grades and standardized test scores now, to future college admission tests.
CHILD SIMPLY DOES NOT GET PHONICS
Question: My second grader simply can’t sound out most new words; however, she is a very good reader. You can tell her what a word is, or she figures it out through context. Her teacher’s reaction is: “Some kids just won’t get phonics.” This remark bothered me. Is it important for my child to become more skilled with phonics? – Good Reader
Answer: Children learn to read in different ways. Your daughter is a sight reader. This is the way children were taught to read years ago. It would be helpful if your daughter could use phonics to recognize the first sound in unknown words as it would make it easier for her to use context in recognizing them. While she may never be great at phonics, it is highly probable that she has some knowledge of phonics simply through her ability to read so well.
LOWERING STRESS AT SCHOOL
Question: My second-grade daughter is anxious and stressed every day in school. I feel that this is affecting her academic growth. How can I help her to relax in the school environment? – Scared
Answer: You definitely, want your daughter to have a more positive learning experience. It is time to get an appointment with her teacher and school counselor who should have some solid ideas about how to turn this situation around before third grade. An investigation should tell everyone what is causing the anxiety and stress. Could it be the schoolwork or related to her classmates?
The answer could be as simple as getting as getting her some tools like a stress ball, having her chew gum, or sit on an exercise ball – ways that she could use to calm herself and get her mind in a different place.
Authors Peggy Gisler and Marge Eberts have master’s degrees in education and specialist degrees (Ed.S.) in reading. In addition, Peggy has a doctorate in special education and educational leadership.