Math is not math-ing like it used to? Your kids might be learning it differently than you remember back in the day. Wait, before you blame it all on Common Core Standards, let’s help you understand why it is better. Don’t let it intimidate you. Exploring these five basic Common Core Math Strategies will help you support your child’s learning journey with confidence.
The Common Core State Standards Initiative (CCSSI) is designed to ensure that all students are prepared for college and career success. It simply focuses on building a strong foundation of mathematical understanding.
Key Principles of Common Core Math
Conceptual Understanding: Deeper learning and better problem-solving abilities by helping students understand why a problem-solving method works, rather than just memorizing it.
Procedural Fluency: The emphasis is on understanding the underlying concepts before practicing procedures.
Application and Problem-Solving: Connecting math to the real world, so that students apply their knowledge to solve complex problems in real life.
Communication: Equipping students to explain their mathematical thinking and reasoning.
Building Blocks of Common Core Math
- Place Value
- Operations
- Fractions
- Geometry
- Measurement
- Data Analysis
- Statistics
Here are 5 foundational strategies to keep in mind when helping your child navigate common core math learning concepts:
1. Flexible Operations
This strategy emphasizes understanding the underlying concepts rather than relying solely on memorized procedures. It helps students become more confident in their ability to solve problems in different ways. Let’s break it down with an example:
You have a bag of 10 apples and want to share them equally with your friend. There are a few different ways to do it:
- Divide the apples into two equal groups. This is the classic division problem.
- Pick one apple each, taking turns until the bag is empty. This is another way to divide.
- You could also count out 5 apples for you and 5 for your friend. Here, you’ve used subtraction to figure out how many apples you can each get.
No matter what method you use, the answer is five apples each. This is what flexible operations mean: Math is more than one way.
How to support learning:
- Ask open-ended questions. Instead of, “What’s 5 + 3?”, ask, “How can you find the answer to 5 + 3?”
- Value multiple solutions and model flexible thinking. Show your child how you approach problems differently in everyday life.
- Involve your child in shopping, cooking, or gardening. Discuss different ways to pay for items (cash, card, coupons). Talk to them about different measurement units and how to adjust recipes. Or discuss plant growth, patterns, and numbers.
- Many board games involve math concepts like counting, addition, and subtraction. Puzzles and riddles can also stimulate creative problem-solving.
- Use manipulatives like blocks or counters to help visualize math concepts. They can practice mental calculations to improve number sense.
- Even if they don’t get the right answer initially, encourage their thinking process.
2. Number Sense & Place Value
This strategy emphasizes a deep understanding of numbers, their relationships, and how they are represented. It involves:
- Understanding place value: Students learn to recognize the value of each digit in a number based on its position.
- Number comparisons: Students compare numbers using symbols like <, >, and =.
- Number patterns: Students identify and extend number patterns to develop algebraic thinking.
How to support learning:
- Use manipulatives like base-ten blocks to visualize place value.
- Play number games that involve comparing and ordering numbers.
- Explore number patterns in everyday life, such as house numbers or calendar dates.
3. Word Problem Solving
In common core math, students read word problems carefully, identify important information, and consider the question being asked.
- Diagrams, models, and equations are used to represent the problem.
- After solving the problem, students communicate their reasoning and justify the solution.
- Once students understand the problem, they can use various tools to represent it.
How to support learning:
- Read aloud together to encourage understanding and process the information.
- Help them underline or circle important numbers and words.
- Ask questions like, “Can you draw a picture of what’s happening in the story?”
- Use real-life examples to relate to the problem.
- Incorporate math terms like “sum,” “difference,” “product,” and “quotient” into everyday conversations.
- Ask your child to explain how they arrived at their answer. This helps solidify understanding.
- Many online games and apps focus on word problems.
- Create word problems based on your child’s interests.
4. Visual Models & Representations
This strategy uses visual aids to help students understand and solve math problems. It involves:
- Drawing diagrams: Students create visual representations of problems to help them organize information.
- Using models: Students use manipulatives or online tools to model mathematical concepts.
- Number lines: Students use number lines to represent numbers, operations, and relationships.
How to support learning:
- Provide opportunities for your child to draw pictures or diagrams to represent math problems.
- Use online tools or apps that offer visual representations of math concepts.
- Encourage your child to use number lines to solve addition, subtraction, and multiplication problems.
5. Estimation & Mental Math
This strategy focuses on developing number sense and mental calculation skills. It involves:
- Rounding numbers: Students learn to round numbers to estimate sums, differences, products, and quotients.
- Mental math strategies: Students develop efficient mental math strategies for basic calculations.
- Checking reasonableness: Students estimate answers to check if their calculated results are reasonable.
How to support learning:
- Encourage your child to estimate answers before calculating.
- Play mental math games that involve quick calculations.
- Discuss real-life situations where estimation is useful, such as grocery shopping or tipping.
Understanding Common Core Math strategies is essential for parents who value fostering their child’s mathematical confidence and success. Embracing these strategies not only enhances mathematical proficiency but also cultivates critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and a positive attitude toward math.
