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Place value, value of and stickies

Place value and the value of a number are two different things.

Place -value: ten-thousands, thousands, hundreds, tens, ones
The place a numeral is in a number.

Value (of the number): 3,524 The 3 is in thousands place, therefore its value is 3,000. The 5 is 500, the 2 is 20, and the 4 ones is 4.

Write a single number on a given number of sticky notes. Sticky notes are fun and easy to rearrange. Give your child a number to create by putting the sticky notes in the correct order.

As numbers are made, review the place-value vocabulary. Using the correct math terminology is always important.

Children can also put the sticky notes in order of the values you give them, thus creating a number.

Terms: 1,234 is a number. 1,2,3,4 are each a numeral or a digit.

Adding and Subtracting

Popsicle sticks have hundreds of uses from crafts to math.

The colored ones just make it more interesting, and the ones shown from http://pionusparrot.com happen to be smaller than usual.

Choose the appropriate number of sticks and count with your child to get a total, and practice counting.

Discuss the meaning of subtracting, or taking away items or numbers. The word difference should also be used, since it is the answer in subtracting. This just gives them practice with using correct math terminology, which is important in the classroom. Being able to read the words is important also, but again depends on age and grade.

Given a known amount of popsicle sticks, ask the child to take away a certain number. Count how many are left.

The same procedure can be used for adding. While putting more sticks into the amount, use words like adding, add, how many altogether, sum (the answer in addition). Covering math terminology is important. Children learn it without knowing it!

Place-value

Dice can be used for lots of math activities.

Depending on grade level, the difficulty will vary.

Using two dice for ones and tens works. Have your child roll the dice and look at the numbers.

You can tell them the number to make. If they rolled a 4 and 2, you can ask them to put them in the correct place to create 42....2 in ones place, and 4 in tens place. Or they can choose the number they want to make.

You may want to make a chart, and this could consist of just lines. The number of lines will depend of level of difficulty.

You can also ask that they create the largest number and the smallest number they can given the numbers on the dice.

Six dice will take you through hundred-thousands place, just add more and go to infinity! Dollar stores have colored dice and big dice. Learning doesn't have to be expensive. Teachers love dollar store and the like.

If you rather have your child use numbers instead of the dot, cover them with tape or a sticky dot, and then write the numbers 1-6 on the dice. Wooden cubes can be used also.

Remind them that place value go in order opposite than reading. Exposing them to the words for the place values won't hurt either.

Younger students think it's special to have a placemat or a piece of brightly colored felt to roll their numbers on!

Save those plastic bottles

Empty drink bottles can be used to teach addition or multiplication facts.

Addition: depending on difficulty level, place 2 or more dice in the bottle and replace the lid. Shake the bottle, and then hold it sideways. Look at the dot showing on the dice. Have children add up the sums. It's just a different approach to practicing addition facts.

Use more than two dice for advanced level.

This can also be used for estimating numbers.

Multiplication: use two dice and have them give the answer for the two numbers shown. Older children could use 3 dice. If a child needs help with multiplying with a certain number, then use a small wooden cube and write the same number on all sides or cover the dots with a plain sticker or piece of tape.

The smaller drink bottles actually work better.

Those dreaded multiplication facts

Yes, it's necessary to know multiplication facts. Some children memorize them immediately, but then others struggle and never really master them. This
hurts them multiplying with one or more factors, and
makes division extremely difficult.
Some children can learn to count by 2,3,4,etc. quickly.

Then they can use fingers as they count just enough to get
them to the number they need. I am not talking about trying to count 5 x 6 on your fingers. Some do this and get confused and frustrated and are wrong most of the time. For example, 3 x 3, they would use 3 fingers and say 3,6,9 and have their answer.

Explore the multiplication chart with them. Have them color the odd numbers one color and the even another. This is good practice in odd and even numbers.

Then study the chart. The rules for multiplication will pop out and it becomes exciting. When you multiply even numbers x even numbers, the answer is even. Even x odd will give an even number. Odd x odd will give an odd number. This information helped some of my students to know they were wrong if the answer should be odd and was not, etc.

In SC we start multiplication in the third grade. I don't know about other states. Before the grade you child starts, work with them counting by each number. Get a good rhythm going with each number set for fun.

You can get a copy of the above chart and others at About.com:Homeschooling.
www.gtcocalcomp.com/erc/interwritebackgrounds... Another chart through 12.

Good math site

The internet provides numerous sites for parents and children. Below is the description of Cool math 4 kids. Visit, enjoy, learn!

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