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Illustration © Chris Raschka

PARENTS’ GUIDE TO MATH & SCIENCE | PART 1

Confused by your child’s math homework?
Worried that it’s too hard—or too easy?
How about science (or is science an afterthought in her school)? Remember, there’s
more to these subjects than what appears in a
textbook. You might be surprised by how muchyou can pick up from clues in your kids’ classrooms.
By Clara Hemphill and Lydie Raschka, Insideschools.org

This guide will help you findtanks, animals such as gerbils,

out whether your children arelive plants and tools including

getting the math and sciencemagnifying glasses, magnets, or

instruction they need in pre-electrical circuits.

kindergarten through fifth grade—
and will help you do something
about it if they aren’t. It will
explain what the new Common
Core State Standards mean foryour child.
No school is perfect, but if you
understand the strengths andweaknesses of your child’s school
you can help fill in the gaps—even
if you don’t know much math andReal science investigations can spark curiosityand make kids want to do more.

science yourself. You can learn agreat deal by looking around yourchild’s classroom.

For all grade levels
Whatever your child’s grade level,
look for fun-to-read books aboutmath and science, as well as fish
2 Insideschools.org | NYMetroParents.com

Check the daily schedule, which isusually posted in the classroom.
Children should be working on mathat least 1 hour a day. Science lessons
should be part of a regular schoolday, not only a special class once a

Illustration © Chris Raschka

week. If you see an egg incubator (soand minerals, it’s important that hechildren can watch chicks hatch andis excited and engaged in his work.

grow) or caterpillars (which will grow

Learning lots of facts can wait.

into butterflies), that’s a good cluethat science lessons are part of thedaily routine.
The best schools find ways to weave
science together with math, reading,social studies, and even art. Children
may work for long periods on units
about birds, or bridges, or Central
Park. Look for evidence of these
explorations in the classroom. At
PS 321 in Park Slope, Brooklyn, forexample, kindergartners study trees.
They post tree graphs, leaf rubbings,
and diagrams based on their frequent
trips to the park to observe changes
over the course of the year.

“Too much rote learning may well
kill interest,” said Richard Seager,a climate scientist at Columbia
University and parent of two children
who attended PS 75 on the Upper
West Side. “I would think that the

Of course you want to see children’s

best that can be done is to instill a

artwork and essays on the walls,

sense of wonder and interest in the

but you should see examples ofnatural world in the kids, that theymath and science as well. At PS 221

may be motivated to pursue it morein Douglaston, Queens, a bulletinin the future.”

board had fourth-graders’ own
questions about science: “How dosnails breathe?” and “How does
dust form?” and “What started theBlack Death?” Science explorationthat starts with children’s own
questions is more likely to prompt
them to ask more.

Math is a little different. It’s
important for math to be exciting andfun, but children also need specificskills. A look around the classroom
will also help you tell if these skills
are being taught.

Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten

Most of the science experts we

Look for blocks and puzzles. Researchinterviewed said it’s more important

shows that developing good spatial

to spark children’s curiosity thanskills by learning how to put together

to develop a particular body ofdifferent shapes is as important asknowledge in the elementary

learning to count.

school years. Whether your child isstudying the solar system or rocks
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Look for small objects (such as“small,” “tall,” and “short.” By the

buttons, plastic animals, or Legos)

end of kindergarten they should bethat children can touch, count, andable to count to 100; write numberssort. Even before children learn

from 1-20; and know words such as

to write numerals, they need to“above,” “below,” “flat” and “solid,”

get a sense of what numbers are.

according to the Common Core StateCounting objects builds an intuitive

Standards.

A textbook alone isn’t enough. Look for plants
and animals in the classroom.

Cooking ingredients and other kitchenware are
evidence of science exploration.

feel for math that teachers callFirst and second grades“number sense.” Young children

In first and second grades, children

with good number sense quickly

should be learning to add andfigure out amounts— who has more

subtract. They need to understandstrawberries, for instance,

the value of coins, learn how to tellor which pile of M&Ms
is larger. This is an
important foundation
for advanced mathtime, and know how to measure
distances.
Look for a math area with things suchskills later on.

as dice, play money, dominoes, andIn pre-kindergarten,frames, clocks, pattern blocks, andchildren should

rulers. Well-equipped classrooms

learn to count toalso have “manipulatives”— little

20; identify shapes

plastic cubes kids can snap together

such as circles andto learn to add and subtract.

triangles; and know
relative words
including “big,”
4 Insideschools.org | NYMetroParents.com

number lines. Also look for counting

Look for bundles of sticks used torepresent “tens” and little cubes
Illustration © Chris Raschka

used to represent “ones” to help
young students learn place value.
Such tools help children understandthe concepts underlying arithmetic,
not just the rules for addition andsubtraction. Classrooms often havea shelf with puzzles and games suchas Sorry or Connect Four, which are

Small counters, puzzles, and blocks help kids
make sense of how math works.

Third grade
In third grade, children learn
multiplication and division. They
need quick recall of math facts,
so some drill is necessary. Look
for worksheets, flashcards, andworkbooks so children can practice

Look for a variety of science tools on classroom
shelves, not hidden away in boxes.
Photos courtesy of Insideschools.org

fun ways for children to reinforce
arithmetic skills, especially whenbasic math facts until they become
automatic.

they are indoors a lot during a longChildren also need to understandwinter.

what multiplication and divisionChildren are learning to talk aboutmath and read word problems at thisage, so look for lists of math words
posted on the wall to help themreally mean. For that, teachers may
ask children to color rows of squares
on graph paper, or to cut strips ofpaper a certain width and length.

remember words such as “sum” andThird-graders should learn how to“difference.”

calculate the area and perimeter ofAccording to the Common Core State
Standards, by the end of first grade,children should be able to add andsubtract numbers up to 20; by theend of second grade, they shoulda rectangle. Sometimes classrooms
have square plastic tiles that children
can assemble into rectangles so they
can see concretely what “area” and“perimeter” mean.

be able to add and subtract large

By the end of third grade, children

numbers.

should have memorized the times
5tables up to 10 x 10 as well as division

written explanation of their work—

facts, according to the Common Core.

part of most lessons today—isdesigned to demonstrate that they

Fourth and fifth grades
Fourth-graders need to be able tomultiply and divide large numbers, andby fifth grade children should be able
to multiply and divide fractions. Youmight see posters with drawings ofproblems such as: How can 8 children
share 5 hero sandwiches fairly?
You may see charts showing thework kids have done to solve big
word problems that require them touse all of their math skills—addition,
subtraction, multiplication, division,and fractions. If children solve
problems in different ways, that’s agood sign that they understand what
they are doing and have not merely

get the concepts.
Math textbooks are fine, but goodteachers draw on several different
math programs or resources (think
instructional YouTube videos or sites
such as EngageNY.com, which offers
an array of activities as well as games
for helping students practice key skillsof the Common Core State Standards)
because not all kids learn in the sameway. Some kids look at numerals on
paper and understand them rightaway; others need pictures andobjects to make sense of arithmetic.
Some prefer worksheets andworkbooks. Others need to count, use
number lines, or use a computer. It’s

mastered a formula.

helpful if there is variety. No one set

Research shows children need both aof the best schools use elements fromdeep understanding of math and thea variety of math books.

ability to solve arithmetic problems
quickly, so look for evidence ofboth teaching approaches in theclassroom. Numbers lined up inneat rows—the way most of today’s
parents learned arithmetic—show
a quick and efficient way to solve
problems. Conversely, children’sof math books works for all kids; many

One of the best things we can do as
parents is to be aware, interested,and open. Learning math and scienceis a process. Keep an eye on theseclassroom clues and grade-level
milestones, and take note of how
your child learns best.

★ See a slideshow of what to look for in math and science education in grades
K-5—plus find a list of 15 NYC elementary schools with exemplary math andscience instruction—at Insideschools.org.

★ Learn about the year-round programming at the New York Hall of Science at
nymetroparents.com/nysci.

★ Discover what a visit to Manhattan’s Museum of Mathematics looks like atnymetroparents.com/momath.
6 Insideschools.org | NYMetroParents.com

PARENTS’ GUIDE TO MATH & SCIENCE | PART 2

Whether you’re mystified by math and stymied
by science or you’re a renowned physicist,
determining the strength of your kid’s educationin these subjects can seem impossible. But asking
the right questions—of the teacher and yourchild—will yield revealing answers.

comes to math. Most
teachers know how to findbooks to match a child’s
reading level, but theyoften pitch math lessons
to the whole group in order tocover a certain amount of material.
The best schools ensure thebrightest children can move ahead
Students at Brooklyn Brownstone in BedfordStuyvesant, Brooklyn harvest crops fromschoolyard planters.

What to ask the teacherof their peers, either by working
on more complex problems or byworking independently on mathwebsites such as Khan Academy(khanacademy.org). They also ensureObviously, you want to ask questions

struggling kids get the help theyas part of friendly curiosity, notneed, often in small groups inside or

grilling the teacher. Remember,outside the classroom.

you both have your children’s bestinterest at heart. Here are some ideas
for questions:

Faster learners shouldn’t be told
to read a book while other children
finish their work. They should be

How do you challenge the best

working on math during math time.

students and help struggling

It’s okay if a teacher occasionallylearners?

asks them to double-check their

Reaching children of different
abilities is one of a teacher’s mostdifficult tasks, particularly when it
Illustration © Chris Raschka

work or to help their peers, but fasterlearners need a chance to do moreadvanced work.
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At PS 172 in Sunset Park, Brooklyn,
we sat in on a fifth-grade math classin which the teacher managed toadapt the same complex problem fordifferent children: If two teachers,
shopping together, each buy a pairof shoes at a “buy one, get one forhalf-price” sale, what’s the fairest
way to divide the cost? Somechildren worked on the problem
independently or in pairs, others got
little hints from the teacher, and stillothers got step-by-step instructions
from the second teacher in the class,
who is trained in special education.
At the end of the period, all children
sat on a rug and discussed how they
arrived at the answer.

At the Museum of Mathematics in Murray Hill,
executive director Glen Whitney tests out the
Coaster Rollers exhibit, where visitors canpropel themselves along a track filled with oddly
shaped objects.

Does the school do anything toencourage girls in math?
Girls often get discouraged by

Do you have any math and science
partnerships?

math early in their school careers.

Some schools hire consultants

Good schools work to bolster

to train teachers in challenging

girls’ confidence and break down

math curricula such as Math instereotypes about girls not liking

Focus, based on math programs

math. These schools encouragein Singapore. Many schools havegirls to build with blocks and Legos,

partnerships with colleges orjoin the math or robotics club, andmuseums.

hang out in the computer lab withthe technology teacher during
lunch. Mentors count: Girls often
model their behavior after theirfemale teachers. It’s particularly
important for female teachers not
to say, “I wasn’t good at math.”
Research shows female teachers
often unwittingly pass on their own
insecurity about math to their female
pupils.

8 Insideschools.org | NYMetroParents.com

Children in second through fourth
grades learn about preservation of
bird habitats as part of an Audubon
Society program called “For the
Birds!” (learn more at ny.audubon.
org/birds-1). Similarly, the Cornell
Lab of Ornithology distributes grants
to teachers and assists youngsters
in high-quality data collection about
birds in urban areas (read about its
programs at birds.cornell.edu).

In a project called Tomatosphere,

lever) and a doorstop (for scientificchildren at PS 205 in Queens growpurposes, a wedge).

tomato seeds in conditions designed
to simulate those on a trip to Mars.
They contribute data to the CanadianSpace Agency’s project studying thefeasibility of growing edible plants onlong journeys in space.
The Center for Architecture
Foundation helps children build
models such as a long house, atenement building, and a skyscraper
to show New York City’s history
through 200 years of architecture.

Does your child use words such as“carnivore,” “porous,” “sediment,”“volcanic ash” or “metamorphosis”?
Good science instruction builds achild’s vocabulary.
It’s a good sign if kids are thinking
about math and not just doingit, according to Mark Saul,
Ph.D., director of the Center for
Mathematical Talent at New York
University. Can your child use ameasuring cup to double a recipe

Are there ways for students to getwhile cooking with you? Or figure out

involved with math and science

how long it will take for Grandma andoutside the regular school day?

Grandpa to arrive by looking at the

Schools that have a strong math andscience focus often have robotics,
math or chess clubs during lunch
or after school. Children involved inclock and doing the math? How about
determine approximate mileage fora family trip by looking at a map?
Those are all good signs.

some of these programs may evenDon’t worry too much if you

take part in national competitions.

find your children’s homework
confusing— many parents do.

What does your child say?

And don’t force them to do

Another telling clue: Is your childmath the way you did, Dr. Saul

talking about math and science? Does

says. Instead, be curious about

she bring her enthusiasm home?

the way your kids are doing it.
Ask them questions; don’t dole

One mother we spoke to said thatout answers. Acknowledge themher son was thrilled to tell her what

for trying hard and not giving up.

he learned about migration when

Research shows persistence is what

he tallied the number of pigeonscounts in the long run— not gettingin his neighborhood as part of aeverything right the

project at the Brooklyn New School.

first time.

First-graders at Midtown West in
Manhattan ask their parents to

If your children

help them find simple machines

are engaged andat home—a flip-top lid (a.k.a., ashow curiosity
themselves, things

Illustration © Chris Raschka

9A girl at PS 185 The Early Childhood Discovery and Design Magnet in Central Harlem South looks atplans to help her build a Lego design. Girls often need to be encouraged to work through the tricky partsof a science challenge—and that support is tantamount in today’s world; minority women comprise
fewer than 1 in 10 employed scientists and engineers.

are probably okay. If they avoid

and skills they’ve studied in school.

homework or race through it—if they

They send home pictures of mathare bored, anxious, or confused—strategy charts used in class so

there may be a problem.

parents can also reference them at

Some schools send home different

home, and post ideas on a web page.

homework packets depending on a

The specifics of what your child

child’s ability. Teachers at PS 59 intalks about will vary based on his

Manhattan send home a customized

classroom experiences, but rest

plan for each child including reading

assured, if he’s engaged and truly

levels and math strengths, withlearning math and science, he’ll likely

games kids and parents may play

be enthusiastic about what he shares.

together to support math concepts

10 Insideschools.org | NYMetroParents.com

…

if a school falls short

If your child’s school falls short in math and science, there is much you can doto help. See Insideschools.org/free-programs for more ideas.

Volunteer at the school

Get creative• Start a chess or robotics club after school• Introduce games such as Yahtzee oror during lunch. Shewonia Bowman, an

Scrabble at home and let the kids keepengineer and the mother of two girls,

score.

started an early morning math club withinteractive games at PS 199 in Manhattan.

• Engage kids in studies when they’re
actively doing something else they love. One• Help children plant a school vegetableparent got her son a mini-trampoline, andgarden to teach them about nutrition andhe was much more open to practicing facts

the environment.

when paired with jumping up and down.

• Chaperone or extend other help on a

• Help your children conduct real research:relevant field trip; excursions to area

Citizen Science enlists ordinary citizens tomuseums are good ways to bolster science.

count pigeons in cooperation with Cornell
University; scientists use the data in their

Repeat after me

published work. In Project Bud Burst kids

• If your child’s school is good at teachingfind a bush and watch it during the season

the concepts of math but doesn’t teachquick recall of facts, you may want to
supplement at home with a computer
program or flash cards.
• If your child doesn’t respond to oldfashioned memorization drills, look forsongs to memorize facts. For example, you
can teach your child to “skip count” by thedreaded 7s by setting the numbers to thetune of “Happy Birthday”: 7, 14, 21 / 28, 35 /42, 49 / 56, 63...
• Visit mathabc.com, a free website loadedwith drills, to help with memorization ofmultiplication tables.

when the bush opens a bud; it’s a sensitive
measure for global climate.
• If the teaching leans too much in the
direction of “drill and kill,” give your kids
the opportunity to try tangrams, mazes, 2-D
puzzles, shapes, origami and visual puzzles.
• Take a free workshop offered by NYU’s
Courant Institute, where you can pickup ideas such as making shapes out of
toothpicks and gumdrops to talk about
vertices, faces and edges. Courant
will suggest you Google “DAT = Dental
Admissions Test” to find puzzles that help
kids ‘see’ math concepts.
Illustration © Chris Raschka11Go on educational family outings• Check out the World Science Festival each
May with activities across the city. Gazethrough a telescope at the night stars, orlisten to scientists explain “What is sleep?”
See: worldsciencefestival.com

Center across the Hudson in nearby New
Jersey; the Greenburgh Nature Center, ashort train ride away in Scarsdale; the
New York Aquarium in Brooklyn’s Coney
Island; the Town of Ramapo Challenger
Center in Rockland County, where kids
can be astronauts for a day; the Science• Visit the Museum of Mathematics inMuseum of Long Island in Manhasset; theManhattan. This dynamic and interactive

Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, CT; andmuseum, which focuses on enhancing public

the Wolf Conservation Center in South

understanding and perception of math inSalem. Find details on these and many

daily life, is the first of its kind in the country.

more at nymetroparents. com/nature andLearn more about its unique programming at

nymetroparents.com/outings.

nymetroparents.com/momath.

Find the beauty• Take your kids to the annual Maker Faire, atechnology and science extravaganza withlots of free hands-on activities, held every
September at the New York Hall of Sciencein Queens. Stop by NYSCI any time of year
for the wide array of programs. Read moreat nymetroparents.com/nysci.

• We want our children to think of math andscience as beautiful, not merely useful.
Pamela Liebeck, author of How Children
Learn Mathematics, says math appeals tokids in much the same way art and music
do—based on their intellectual or aesthetic
response. Math and science should be• Make a wish-list of places to see:appealing—because if it is, kids will want

American Museum of Natural History into do more of it.

Manhattan; the Bronx Zoo; Liberty Science

Sources & Recommended Reading
1. F emale teachers unwit tingly passed their own math anxiety onto theirfemale students in an article based on the work of Sian L. Beilock,et.al., called: “Female Teachers’ Math Anxiety Affects Girls’ Math
Achievement.”
2. W hen science and literacy lessons are integrated, students
demonstrate greater skill in all of these areas, writes Gina N. Cervet ti,
et. al., in a paper titled, “A Model of Science-Literacy Integration.”
3. M any girls believe math ability is fixed- —it’s a gift you have or do
not have. Girls who believe math is an acquired set of skills do bet ter,according to Carol S. Dweck, in her book: Mindset.
4. T he early years are important: Number sense in first grade predicts
math ability in middle school, say Geary, Hoard, Bailey & Nugent in“Adolescents’ Functional Numeracy Is Predicted by their School Entry
Number System Knowledge.”
5. S tereotype threat can impact student academic performance,
according to author Claude Steele in his book: Whistling Vivaldi: How
Stereotypes Affect Us and What We Can Do.

6. B locks and puzzles can help school readiness; using words suchas “between,” “under,” “shorter,” and “longer” can help kids bet ter
understand spatial problem-solving tasks, says lead author Brian N.
Verdine in “Finding the Missing Piece: Blocks, Puzzles, and Shapes
Fuel School Readiness.”
7. N ational Girls Collaborative Project presents research focused onwhat works to engage and support girls in Science, Technology, Mathand Engineering at ngcproject.org.
8. G
 ames for Math: Playful Ways to Help Your Child Learn Math, From
Kindergarten to Third Grade by Peggy Kaye is a user-friendly bookfilled with math games to play at home.
9. B uild number sense as you browse and discuss this picture book withyour child ages 4-8: Anno’s Counting Book, by Mitsumasa Anno.
10. I n addition to games and puzzles, Family Math by Jean K. Stenmark,et.al., includes a step-by-step description of how to organize a“family math” class at your child’s school.

This guide was made possible with a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
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