Look for ones that are both interesting to your child and that cover a wide range of math skills. Used properly, the calculator can be a tool, not a crutch. Using a calculator for application problem can help your child concentrate on the problem-solving process without getting bogged down in the computation. You can set up a separate account group for your child. If your child is saving for a particular goal and you can t find a bank that allows small enough accounts without fees, consider establishing a bank account with the Bank of Parents and recording deposits, interest, and withdrawals in the electronic ledger.
Websites provide a variety of high-interest mathematical activities.
Figurethis, for example, is a site operated by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. A search engine or a chat with your child s math teacher may help you find other sites. Many home school curriculum writers suggest that involving the child in a business reinforces many skills. Children educated outside the home can benefit from involvement in a business as well. Even with all the tools available today, computation still is important.