Kathy has a passion for all things creative, including writing and the arts. She has a B.S. from Southern Connecticut State University and Covenant Life Seminary, as well as graduate coursework from New York Institute of Technology and Columbia University.
As a freelance writer, Kathy has published several articles. She is a contributing editor for The National Writing for Children's Center. Kathy's first children's book, "Moving through All Seven Days," came out in 2009. She has many more books coming out this year!
Kathy uses her talents in her blog to help her readers. One great example of how she give great advice can be found below. Click on Read More below for an example of Kathy's blog posts...
HELP YOUR CHILD WITH MATH AT HOME!
by Kathy Stemke
Begin each math homework session by asking your child to explain what he's supposed to do. By his response, you'll know if he can do the assignment alone or if you need to help him get started.
When helping your child, ask questions to guide him through the process, such as, "Where do you begin?" "What do you need to find out?" " Can you show me in a drawing how you got the answer?"
It's okay to say that you don't understand a problem. It gives you an opportunity to review the lesson together to see if you've missed some important piece of information.
Establish a clear understanding with your child's teacher(s) about the frequency and amount of homework he'll receive. Modification of homework may increase his motivation and how much work he does. With his teacher, decide if he needs to do fewer problems, or if he can say the answers out loud and you can write them for him, or if he can check his work with a calculator.
If you're not around when your child completes his homework, let him know that you'll look it over when you get home. Be sure to follow through. Tell him you're doing this to help him, not judge him.
When kids realize that math is all around them, they begin to relax and see its meaning in their lives. So use math in everyday life-count out forks to set the table, pour out a measured amount of milk, or practice telling time.
Show how math is more than learning addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Math also teaches us to analyze, reason, and plan. These are all useful skills that transfer over to reading and writing as well.
Model analytical and mathematical thinking. Be a problem solver, explore questions, and find solutions. Talk about likenesses and differences, and explain your reasoning.
Encourage your child to express his problem solving out loud so you can understand his reasoning.
When driving in the car, talk about how numbers help us determine how fast we drive, the distance traveled, mileage the car gets per gallon of gas, and how long it will takes to get home.
Expose your child to money in his early school years. Have him keep coins in a piggy bank and count them out regularly. If he receives an allowance, have him keep track of the amount or start a bank account.
Have your child use an analog and digital watch or clock to learn both methods of telling time.
Post a chart of math facts on the wall in his room. Some activities and games can help kids memorize math facts.
Computer learning games can also be used to reinforce skills. Most kids enjoy working on the computer. There are software programs to fit many skill levels. Older students may want to use calendars or spreadsheets in their daily or weekly schedule. Doing this will reinforce the many uses of math.
Incorporate games involving numbers and math into play. There are many types of games — from flash cards for learning basic math facts to games involving money, time, and logic.
HERE ARE SOME MATH ARTICLES I WROTE FOR HELIUM WITH SPECIFIC GAMES TO PLAY WITH YOUR CHILDREN.http://www.helium.com/items/1183735
-young-children-money-recognition-teaching-count-spend-save-activities-songs-needs-
wants
http://www.helium.com/items/1166822-math-
manipulatives-unifix-cubes-value-of-learning-educational-resources-geometric
http://www.helium.com/items/1160113-
number-fun-skip-count-writing-recognition-activities-digits-poem-add-subtract-
multiply
http://www.helium.com/items/1117913-how-to-help-your-young
-child-develop-math-skills-at-home
http://www.helium.com/items/960547-math-games-for-the-elementary-school
-classroom
Begin each math homework session by asking your child to explain what he's supposed to do. By his response, you'll know if he can do the assignment alone or if you need to help him get started.
When helping your child, ask questions to guide him through the process, such as, "Where do you begin?" "What do you need to find out?" " Can you show me in a drawing how you got the answer?"
It's okay to say that you don't understand a problem. It gives you an opportunity to review the lesson together to see if you've missed some important piece of information.
Establish a clear understanding with your child's teacher(s) about the frequency and amount of homework he'll receive. Modification of homework may increase his motivation and how much work he does. With his teacher, decide if he needs to do fewer problems, or if he can say the answers out loud and you can write them for him, or if he can check his work with a calculator.
If you're not around when your child completes his homework, let him know that you'll look it over when you get home. Be sure to follow through. Tell him you're doing this to help him, not judge him.
When kids realize that math is all around them, they begin to relax and see its meaning in their lives. So use math in everyday life-count out forks to set the table, pour out a measured amount of milk, or practice telling time.
Show how math is more than learning addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Math also teaches us to analyze, reason, and plan. These are all useful skills that transfer over to reading and writing as well.
Model analytical and mathematical thinking. Be a problem solver, explore questions, and find solutions. Talk about likenesses and differences, and explain your reasoning.
Encourage your child to express his problem solving out loud so you can understand his reasoning.
When driving in the car, talk about how numbers help us determine how fast we drive, the distance traveled, mileage the car gets per gallon of gas, and how long it will takes to get home.
Expose your child to money in his early school years. Have him keep coins in a piggy bank and count them out regularly. If he receives an allowance, have him keep track of the amount or start a bank account.
Have your child use an analog and digital watch or clock to learn both methods of telling time.
Post a chart of math facts on the wall in his room. Some activities and games can help kids memorize math facts.
Computer learning games can also be used to reinforce skills. Most kids enjoy working on the computer. There are software programs to fit many skill levels. Older students may want to use calendars or spreadsheets in their daily or weekly schedule. Doing this will reinforce the many uses of math.
Incorporate games involving numbers and math into play. There are many types of games — from flash cards for learning basic math facts to games involving money, time, and logic.
HERE ARE SOME MATH ARTICLES I WROTE FOR HELIUM WITH SPECIFIC GAMES TO PLAY WITH YOUR CHILDREN.http://www.helium.com/items/1183735
-young-children-money-recognition-teaching-count-spend-save-activities-songs-needs-
wants
http://www.helium.com/items/1166822-math-
manipulatives-unifix-cubes-value-of-learning-educational-resources-geometric
http://www.helium.com/items/1160113-
number-fun-skip-count-writing-recognition-activities-digits-poem-add-subtract-
multiply
http://www.helium.com/items/1117913-how-to-help-your-young
-child-develop-math-skills-at-home
http://www.helium.com/items/960547-math-games-for-the-elementary-school
-classroom
13 comments:
Thanks for the great post Joe. I love your book and I hope you will be very successful.
Hey, Joe,
Kathy always has great tips for teachers and parents! She's a contributing editor for the National Writing for Children Center at http://www.writingforchildrencenter.com
How great to see another wonderful article from her here.
Good luck with your book!
Wonderful article with great tips!!! Thanks so much for sharing!
Great going Kathy. I could have used you as a kid - my math skills sucked!! I hated it. English was my bag. I shined at that.
Books for Kids - Manuscript Critiques
http://www.margotfinke.com
Kathy sure has good suggestions. I wish my family had done more of those things when I was a kid.
Congratulations Kathy! This is a great how you help so many teachers.
Thanks for stopping by everyone.
Kathy, great article full of great tips. Thanks for sharing it!
Kathy:
Great tips for teachers and parents. Your expertise is outstanding.
Best wishes,
Donna
Kathy:
Great tips for teachers and parents. Your expertise is outstanding.
Best wishes,
Donna
Thanks, Donna.
Kathy,
Great article and good tips. It should be helpful to many people.
Great tips, Kathy! I could have used your help when my sons were young!
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