When do I need to leave home to get to school on time? How long does it take to drive (or walk)?
How many days until my birthday?
How long will it take me to save up to $10.00 if I earn 50 cents a week?
There are so many ways we use math every day. We hope that children have many opportunities to answer these kinds of math questions together with you, and that they see that life is full of math opportunity.
On a future homework chart, you will see "Free Math" listed in the Thursday math slot. You and your child are FREE to decide what MATH problem you want to solve--and then show how you solved it (Parents and/or children may write the process used).
Following is the "Free Math Ideas" link on our blog page. Please notice that this homework can be done any day of the week, recorded on a separate piece of paper, and then taped or stapled in the journal on Thursday. Many families have worked a problem out on the weekend.
http://grades2and3mustardseed.blogspot.com/p/free-math-ideas.html
In the season of the election, there are ample math opportunities:
...How many electoral college votes does New Jersey (or New York) have? Why?
...How many days between the election and the inauguration? Show how you figured that out.
...How many school board members are there in Jersey City? How does that number compare to how many are in the city where grandma lives? Why might there be more or less?
...What percentage of people voted? Why isn't it 100%?
And finally, here are some examples of work done by past students and their parents:
We look forward to reading your adventures in Free Math! If you and your child want to get started this week Thursday, please do!