The math curriculum for each elementary school grade is organized in five strands, or areas of learning. In each strand, students develop their ability to think mathematically, investigate concepts and relationships, apply their knowledge and skills to solve problems, and communicate their thinking.
Number Sense and Numeration
In this strand, your child is learning about numbers and operations and how to use numbers to describe and understand the world around them. Your child is developing strategies to solve problems involving number calculations efficiently and accurately. The knowledge and skills learned in this strand are used in all other strands.
Measurement
Your child is learning to estimate and measure lengths and distances, area, mass, volume, capacity, time and temperature. In higher grades, your child will learn and apply measurement formulas, such as area of a circle TTr2 .
Geometry and Spatial Sense
Your child is learning to classify, compare, and construct angles, lines, and shapes, and to visualize and describe positions and motion in space. Your child will apply the properties of two-dimensional shapes and three-dimensional figures when solving geometry problems.
Patterning and Algebra
Your child is learning to build models to represent real-life situations. Your child is developing the ability to identify patterns and generalize and make predictions based on patterns. Your child is learning to use symbols and equations to describe mathematical relationships.
Data Management and Probability
Your child is collecting, organizing, displaying, and drawing conclusions from data, and learning to use math to describe the likelihood that something will happen. Your child is learning to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in these five strands to solve real-life problems in contexts that are appropriate for your child’s grade level.
Be a Math Role Model You are an important part to your child’s success in math. It’s true! Your encouragement, interest, and positive attitudes about math can go a long way to helping your child.
What can you do to support my child’s math learning?
- Encourage your child. Help your child to not get discouraged when learning a concept or skill proves harder than was hoped.
- Remind your child that success comes from hard work and perseverance, and that making mistakes is part of learning and growing.
- Be genuinely curious about what your child is thinking and learning.
- Be positive about math! Avoid saying “I was never good at math” or “I never liked math.”
- Show that you think math is important and interesting. U
- Use numbers when you discuss daily activities, sports, and so on.
- Look for opportunities for math to be a natural part of your conversations.
A great resource for Parents: Inspiring Your Child to Learn and Love Math http://www.ontariodirectors.ca/parent_engagement-math/en/index.htm