Tips for Practicing Math Skills This Summer
By Mary Ann Knutson, Lead Teacher
Math is all around us every day, so it’s easy to sneak it into your summer activities to keep your child using their math skills throughout the summer. Here are some ideas for working math into your daily routine. Just don’t tell them it’s math!
Play games like Uno, Go Fish, Blackjack, Monopoly, The Game of Life, or The Allowance Game.
Practice geometry by finding different shapes in your house, yard, neighborhood park, or any location you are visiting.
Cooking is a great way to work with fractions through measuring ingredients.
Discuss topics such as how many ¼ cups are in a whole cup.
At a higher level, work with your child as you halve a recipe or double it.
Talk about time with your child. Think out loud.
What time is it?
What time will it be in one hour? How do you know?
What time do we usually eat dinner? AM or PM?
If you are going to a movie, plan the time out together.
What time does it start? How long does it take to get there?
What time will we have to leave home?
How long does the movie last?
What time will we get home (after getting ice cream, of course!)?
Grocery shopping is a great way to practice math skills using money.
Check the prices online ahead of time.
Keep track of prices as you shop; round the prices and add them to estimate what your bill will be.
Use the weekly coupons you get in the mail to figure out real-life costs after discounts.
Go old school and pay with cash.
If you don’t have any change, how much money do you need to give the cashier? (rounding up to the next dollar)
Count the change you get back. Is it the correct amount?
When dining out, how much should you give as a tip? What is 10% of the bill? 15%? 20%?
Going on vacation? Involve your child in the planning.
Talk about how many miles your destination is from home.
How long will it take to get there if you drive? For a longer trip, what might be a good place and time to make a stop?
If you’re flying, when does your flight leave? When should you get to the airport if you want to get there two hours early? What time should you leave your house?
Mary Ann Knutson
Ms. Knutson is celebrating her 18th year at Havern School! She has a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and a Masters in Special Education from the University of Northern Colorado. She is the Lead Teacher in Room 220. Ms. Knutson’s favorite subjects are math and American History and she loves seeing her classroom of 7th and 8th grade students “try their very best at the things that are hardest for them all day every day.” Her former students’ successes serve as her inspiration and inform her work in the classroom each day.
