how to raise kids who love math

I was absolutely floored at how many emails I received after I posted the article about what to do when kids hate reading last week.

Blown-away.  Floored.

Many wrote to say thanks for sharing great tools, thanks for acknowledging how hard it is, or thanks for sharing some pretty decent tips.

And ohmygosh thank you so much.

Others wrote to ask me when I was going to write the same piece but for math: What do you do when kids hate math?

And again, ohmygosh thank you so so so much you know that your wanting me to write something is so totally appreciated and flattering beyond belief.

And others yet wrote: What do you do when it’s not your kids who hate math–but it’s the parent who hates math? What do you do when a parent’s anxiety is so high over math that he or she is unable to even begin to help? Then what?

Oh. My. Gosh. Ohmygosh OH. MAH. GOSH. Thank you so so so very much because you made me realize that I’m not alone–

I’m not going to lie and say I have all of the answers; you know I totally have openly admitted my own math anxiety and feelings of inadequacy in this department.

But I am excited to share some news that may be of interest to you on how to raise kids who love math.

Here’s the skinny. . .

• How to Raise Kids Who Love Math: There’s no hard and fast secret to raising kids who love math; in fact, I’m willing to bet that there’s no hard and fast secret to raising kids, period.

I’ve written post after post about how we try to incorporate fun math into our every day, though I’m still learning: 

• math bingo!
• everyday math activities
• quick and easy math game–strike it out!
• fall fun grid games
• anytime math!
• 3 quick, totally cool, hands-on math games
• magic triangles
• math in the kitchen
• writing tricky number 5
• number hunt!
• street sign math
• number boxes 2.0
• skip counting
• ways to make math fun
• casual calculator fun

Feel free to follow a few fun mathy boards on Pinterest:

• math!
• math is fun!
• primary reading & math

And several of us are continuing the conversation on how we can move kids toward loving math this very week.  Please join us!

 

 

 

 

 

Who: 

• Kelly Kutach from Texas Instruments (@TICalculators)
• Kim Moldofsky (@KimMoldofsky)
• Jeanne Bernish (@JeanneBernish)
• Miss Lori (@MissLori)
• me (@teachmama)
• and YOU!

What: #STEMchat Twitter Event sponsored by our friends from Texas Instruments!

Why: To chat about what we can do, as parents and teachers, to help us all raise children who love math & to win one of two TI-Nspire™ CX graphing/scientific handheld units!

Where: Twitter, of course! http://twitter.com

When: Thursday, 9/20/12 from 9-10pm ET

How:

1. RSVP here: TheMakerMom.com so you’re ready to go!
2. Log onto twitter on 9/20, at 9pm ET and search the hashtag #STEMchat . . . or use this TweetChat link: http://tweetchat.com/room/STEMchat
3. Share your thoughts, resources, and ideas on how to make math fun for children!

Find out more about the TI STEM ambassador: Emmy-nominated Big Bang Theory actress and real life neuroscientist Mayim Bialik and the Take Mayim Back to School Contest. Parents, students and educators can enter on the TI Calculators Facebook page here.

And no worries if you can’t make the chat; Kim is planning to run a #STEMchat every month, each one with a slightly different focus. We all need to know how to encourage STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education for all of our children, so let’s put our heads together!
fyi: I was compensated for my time and participation in this upcoming event, though it is a cause I stand firmly behind. Hope to see you there!