June 2022 - Math Outdoors
In our everyday life, even if we are not always consciously aware of it, we are using math to understand and make sense of the world. This is especially true when we are engaging in tasks outdoors. Exploring the outdoors, whether in a forest or in a busy downtown core, offers a wealth of mathematical learning opportunities. This summer, take the time to discover the different and exciting math in your community and beyond.
Primary Tasks:
May 2022 - Spatial Reasoning
Do you know that working on your Spatial Reasoning actually helps develop stronger number sense and overall mathematical understanding?
“Research on spatial reasoning substantiates the critical importance of spatial reasoning abilities in geometry, measurement and problem solving both early in students’ mathematics experiences as well as later in high school and beyond, especially in STEM areas” (Shumway, 2013, p. 50).
So, what exactly do we mean by spatial reasoning?
April 2022 - Math Facts and Fluency
Number sense is an important part of mathematics learning, and is essential to our daily lives. Educators often say that they want students to have automaticity with their math facts, but what do they mean by this?
March 2022 - Mathematical Modelling
How can we make sure everyone has clean drinking water? How can we make the checkout system at the store more efficient? How can we make sure that the grocery store has enough food so everyone in the community can purchase what they need?
We live in a world where we are constantly required to ask questions and figure out answers. With a lot of these questions - we can figure out the answers using math. This is what mathematical modelling entails.
February 2022 - Games and Puzzles
Playing math games has always been valued in math class as part of the delivery of a Comprehensive Math Program. Did you know that the games you play at home also support mathematical development? Whether you are playing a board game like Snakes and Ladders or an online game like Solitaire, important math skills are being developed as you play.
January 2022 - Is Your Child Showing an Interest in Coding?
You may be hearing stories and experiences of children learning to code at school since it was introduced in the updated 2020 Ontario Math Curriculum. Coding is simply a method of communicating with a computer to give it instructions in order for it to perform specific functions. At the elementary school level, students learn the basics of coding and continue to develop their understanding through the following grade and concepts:
December 2021 - Looking for Math Manipulatives at Home?
Using manipulatives (objects) to explore mathematical concepts is an important part of the learning process. They support a conceptual approach to learning math and allow children to see and create visual representations that help them understand abstract math concepts.
November 2021 - What is a Mathematician?
Who do you think of when you think of a Mathematician? Is it the stereotypical portrayal we have been exposed to in the media of an adult male in a white lab coat? This is the way many of our students describe mathematicians, which is not accurate. It does not represent the many social and cultural identities of past and present mathematicians and excludes students from seeing themselves as capable mathematical thinkers. If we want children to see themselves as mathematicians, we need to disrupt this stereotype and help children to understand that we are all mathematicians.
October 2021 - TVO Learning at Home Supports
There are several free online resources developed by TVO in partnership with Ontario educators and media experts to support learning at home. The following may help in discovering new and engaging ways to connect students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 to the Ontario curriculum.
TVOkids (Kindergarten to Grade 6)
September 2021 - Financial Literacy
Welcome to a new school year and a new year of mathematical thinking!
The math curriculum has financial literacy expectations from grades 1 to 9 and 11. Here are some suggestions for activities that families can do together to support learning about financial literacy.
Primary (Grades 1 to 3):