MSI Press Blog

Today's tip for parents from two talented teachers comes from  365 Teacher Secrets for Parents  by Cindy McKinley Alder and Patti Trombly. #189 Different Kinds of Graphs   Doing mathematics should always mean finding patterns and crafting beautiful and meaningful explanations. ~ Paul Lockhart   Graphing is a tool used to help people see relationships between certain things. They are everywhere and are a helpful part of textbooks if you know how to read them. You can help your child by explaining that graphs are just pictures of this information. Children are usually introduced to three basic kinds of graphs in elementary school: pie, line and bar. Try finding examples of them together tonight by browsing through magazines or the newspaper. Perhaps the most common and easiest graph to create and interpret is the bar graph. You may want to start your graphing endeavors with this type. Today, think of all the ways you and your child could create a graph. Could you make...

  Today's tip for parents from two talented teachers comes from  365 Teacher Secrets for Parents  by Cindy McKinley Alder and Patti Trombly. #188 Tally Charts    When things get too complicated, it sometimes makes sense to stop and wonder: Have I asked the right question? ~ Enrico Bombieri   Learning to make and understand graphs is an important skill. Before you can make a graph, however, you need to have collected some information. One easy way to organize information is in a tally chart. (Under each category are bundles of fine lines. The first four look like 1111 and the fifth is placed diagonally through the first 4.) To help make this concept fun, you and your child could think of something you would be interested in collecting information about. Perhaps:   ●       Tally the favorite ice cream or favorite color of the family. Could you call, write, or e-mail others you know to make your data collection larger and tally...

  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 every where. 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....