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	" 'Things to Remember' [in] A Family Note on Finding the Math"
	This list provides families with tips on how to help children learn math at home. Teaching teams including parents may use this resource to enhance children’s mathematics skills. Adults should engage children in conversations that interest them and provide repetitious activities to deepen their understanding of math concepts. To read PDF files, get here. The following is an excerpt from A Family Note on Finding the Math See PDF version: A Family Note on Finding the Math» [PDF, 155KB]   Family members play a special role in helping children learn about math. Children learn when adults support their talk, play, and routines. Math experiences should be fun, shared times between adults and children. These build children’s positive attitude toward math and learning. Children need experiences handling and using toys and other objects and exploring their characteristics. Adults “mathematize” children’s play by introducing mathematical words about what they are doing. This helps children learn new math vocabulary and deepen their math concepts. Children need repeated experiences. Handling materials and doing things again and again helps children develop new concepts and deepen understanding. It especially helps children’s learning when adult family members speak to young children using the language they are most comfortable with and when they use rich, descriptive words. Children learn best when they are engaged in activities that interest them. Families support learning when they observe children’s interests and use them to help children build their math concepts and skills. It is important that adults engage children in conversations about what they see, hear, and do by commenting on or asking children questions about math experiences. Don’t forget to wait at least 5 seconds before expecting children to answer! " 'Things to Remember' [in] A Family Note on Finding the Math." National Head Start Family Literacy Center, Sonoma State University. 2004. English.