Tiip #187 from 365 Teacher Secrets for Parents (McKinley, Trombly): Patterns

Today's tip for parents from two talented teachers comes from 365 Teacher Secrets for Parents by Cindy McKinley Alder and Patti Trombly.

#187

Patterns

The outline of your future path already exists, for you created its pattern by your past.

~ Sai Baba

Patterns are everywhere! Kids love them! Recognizing patterns in numbers, geometry, and measurement helps get elementary kids thinking in a complex way that will help with the more abstract mathematical concepts they will study in higher grades.

See how many patterns you and your child can find in your everyday lives. (Time, months, seasons, numbers, schedules, wallpaper prints, stories. . . ) Start a family list at the message center of patterns everyone finds. Be on the lookout everywhere.

You can also create opportunities to develop your own patterns. Try a family challenge. Place a bucket of coins on the kitchen table. Challenge each family member to create a unique pattern using any variety of coins. Then, see who can figure out each pattern and even add on to it!

For more permanent patterns, color hollow noodles (see below) and string them to create patterned necklaces your whole family can wear and enjoy!

To make colored noodles:

1. Place a few cups of hollow, uncooked noodles in a plastic, zip-close bag.

2. Add a few drops of food coloring and a tablespoon of rubbing alcohol.

3. Close bag and mix with your hands until all noodles are colored.

4. Spread noodles out on a paper towel to dry.

5. Do the same for each color desired in a new bag. Have fun!

Older elementary students will enjoy finding missing numbers in a sequence. For example, provide them with the following numbers and ask them to find the pattern:

1, 1, 2, 3, 5, ___, ___ Ask what comes next. If your child doesn’t get it in three or four guesses, tell them the next number is 8. Have them guess the next number (13) and the next (21). Ask them if they can figure out the rule that tells how to generate the next number in the sequence. (The rule is to add the previous two numbers.). Encourage your child to create a pattern for you or other family members to figure out. You may find that her patterns are more difficult than any you may create for her.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear What do you See? by Bill Martin is a pattern book that young children are sure to enjoy!

Cindy McKinley Alder Patti Trombly

For more posts about the authors and their books (this is not the only one), click HERE.
For excerpts from more books, click HERE.
For more excerpts from 365 Teacher Secrets for Parents, click HERE.
For more posts about books about parenting, click HERE.

To purchase copies of any MSI Press book at 25% discount,
use code FF25 at MSI Press webstore.

Want to read an MSI Press book and not have to buy for it?
(1) Ask your local library to purchase and shelve it.
(2) Ask us for a review copy; we love to have our books reviewed.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ALL OUR AUTHORS AND TITLES.

Sign up for the MSI Press LLC monthly newsletter
(recent releases, sales/discounts, awards, reviews, Amazon top 100 list, author advice, and more -- stay up to date)
Check out recent issues.

Follow MSI Press on Twitter, Face Book, Pinterest, Bluesky, and Instagram.

Interested in publishing with MSI Press LLC?
Check out information on how to submit a proposal.

We help writers become award-winning published authors. One writer at a time. We are a family, not a factory. Do you have a future with us?

Turned away by other publishers because you are a first-time author and/or do not have a strong platform yet? If you have a strong manuscript, San Juan Books, our hybrid publishing division, may be able to help.

Planning on self-publishing and don't know where to start? Our author au pair services will mentor you through the process.

Interested in receiving a free copy of this or any MSI Press LLC book in exchange for reviewing a current or forthcoming MSI Press LLC book? Contact editor@msipress.com.

Want an author-signed copy of this book? Purchase the book at 25% discount (use coupon code FF25) and concurrently send a written request to orders@msipress.com.
Julia Aziz, signing her book, Lessons of Labor, at an event at Book People in Austin, Texas.

Want to communicate with one of our authors? You can! Find their contact information on our Authors' Pages.

Steven Greenebaum, author of award-winning books, An Afternoon's Discussion and One Family: Indivisible, talking to a reader at Barnes & Noble in Gilroy, California.


MSI Press is ranked among the top publishers in California.