Math Learning Steps

Responding

Once your child is able to respond to what you say, that will allow you to start asking questions. Your “Point and Describe” Math Talk wlll now become Point, Describe, and Ask. Even before your child can say words, they will start to respond non verbally to you as they begin to make sense of your words.

Ask questions

Use this new level of communication to make it clearer which ideas your child understands. “Where is the bird?” or “Where is the ball? makes it clear if your child knows what a bird or ball is. Similarly, “Point to the tree.” or “Point to a car.” works for those two concepts.

Handling mistakes

Ask all kinds of questions. Ask which of two things is bigger or smaller. Ask where you are walking to. Ask where something belongs. All these questions are opportunities for your child to express their understanding and for you to clear up any misconceptions. If your child points to the wrong thing or picks up the wrong thing, simply point out the right thing and don’t try to explain their mistake to them.

Do this while reading

Now you can add asking questions to your pointing and describing as you read a story. Point to pictures in the story and ask the same questions you would ask about the things around you.

Simple riddles

Play games with your child’s new skill and have fun with it. Have fun unraveling puzzles together such as: “There is something red under something blue. Where is it?”