“Culturally and socially, it seems we don’t think about math as integral a part of parenting as reading. And few adults would say, “I’m not so good at reading.” But many people say, “I’m not so good at math.” And somehow that’s socially acceptable.”
-Eric Westervelt
As a counselor at both the elementary and high school levels, I have sat in countless meetings where parents brush off a student’s math skill struggles with dismissive statements. “I was never good at math, either.” “She’s just like me, I hated math.” Parents who fail to value the importance of math do their children an educational disservice. Math is a required subject in all grades through high school and only gets more difficult each year.
Parents, schools, libraries, and even television shows work tirelessly to make reading fun and engaging for kids. There are so many options when it comes to reading education that it’s easy to find something entertaining for even the most reluctant reader. We read to our kids, we make up funny voices, we use puppets, we choose from fiction, non-fiction, poetry, jokes, recipes, choose your own ending….the possibilities are endless!
And then there’s math. Math homework. The end. Oh, yes…we half-heartedly try to sneak in a real world example or teachable moment when we can, but we don’t feel the pressure to ensure that our children become mathematicians like we obsess over our kids becoming READERS.
We’ve Got It All Backward
A 2007 study published in The Journal of Developmental Psychology revealed that math skill in kindergarten is a stronger predictor of later school achievement than reading skills or the ability to pay attention.
When my daughter was in kindergarten, I found myself swept up in a culture of what I called, The Reading Wars. A culture of parents who categorize children and measure their worth by reading ability. Having just come from the library one day to pick her up, a mother snatched the book out of my hands and asked, “What is she reading?” It occurred to me then that we were all measuring our worth as parents by the reading achievement of our children. Somehow, if our children were in the highest reading group, we were doing something very, very right.
As elementary school progresses, a funny thing happens. Most students become fluent readers. The game is over. Everyone is reading. But math keeps marching on…it waits for no one.
Double Dip!
There is no reason, with our limited time, that we can’t do both. How? By using reading time to strengthen math skills. There are a variety of strategies that parents can use to balance children’s love of reading and math simultaneously. You might be surprised by how enjoyable math stories can be. They are a fun way to connect with your kids and encourage critical thinking, acquisition of number sense, and the repetition of basic math facts necessary for math growth. If you are unfamiliar with math stories, check out these books that provide reading practice, math practice, and fun for all.
HAPPY READING!
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