<![CDATA[the math helpER+

<![CDATA[the math helpER+ - Blog]]>Wed, 14 Jan 2026 05:15:36 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Conversation Starters: K - 12 "SMART" TALK WITH KIDS AGES 5-18]]>Tue, 19 May 2020 00:36:53 GMThttps://www.themathhelperwesterly.com/blog/conversation-starters-k-12-smart-talk-with-kidsConversation Starters: K - 12
Smart Talk with Kids Ages 5-18
Written by: Susie Scanapieco

Last week, I wrote about how important it is for children to be spoken to with accurate vocabulary,
from birth through to kindergarten, prior to any formal education.
Obviously, we shouldn’t stop there. Kids of all ages love to talk to adults, if we open up the conversation.
Initiate conversations about sports, animals, politics
(yes, even the youngest children have an opinion about politics),
music, the environment or money.

Here are some of my favorite conversation starters.

You’ll be amazed at how much insight children have.
These conversations will create links to their academic learning in the classroom.
Those links or connections are necessary for brains to absorb and retain knowledge.

ELEMENTARY: I know you like animals, could you help me understand the different categories of [monkeys]? What special characteristics do each of them have? Do the males and females have different names? Are they prey or predators? Would they all be considered mammals? Should we research more about their specific similarities and differences? [Feel free to insert: dogs, cats, ocean creatures, mammals, reptiles.] These conversations help in math classes because children are expected to classify (ex: polygons, types of numbers); therefore, this foundational vocabulary is essential, while using a topic they are interested in.

MIDDLE SCHOOL: Did you think there should be salary caps in sports? What do you think creates revenue for players from different cities? Why should teams be limited in their spending? How do you think teams make profits? Don’t be afraid of bringing up conversations you don’t know much about yourself. Just Google them together! Teaching children that when you don’t know something it’s worth researching, is an important life lesson.

TEENAGERS: Do you know that a few years ago teenage girls in Nigeria were kidnapped just because they were going to school. In their country, some people don’t believe girls should go to school. They believe they should just get married (to old men, who have many other wives) and have babies and are expected to be housewives. Can you believe that? Not exactly mathematical; however, understanding the necessity of education is a big struggle in high school; therefore, this conversation this might lead them to appreciate their own education a bit more. (More about that in my next article.)

These conversations may span days or weeks even. Consider the knowledge they are gaining from these talks: world issues, names of people with global importance, realistic data, opinions, ideologies, content vocabulary.

Children are at their peak of Higher Cognitive Function between the ages of 8 months and 9 years.
They are capable of learning things by memory and also by application – consider a five year-old’s ability to memorize site words and to also learn how to sound out new words.
Are we taking advantage of that as parents, educators and a society as a whole?
Are we giving credit to these children and their natural abilities?
Or are we waiting too long to challenge them with real-life concepts because we think they are too young?
After 9 years old, research shows a decrease in this brain activity.
Think about the Middle School children you know.
Most of them entered MS at around 10 years old (5th grade).
Had they been given enough background knowledge during their ‘peak’ to thrive in their new setting?
Are they aware of the world around them?
Many children fall apart in middle school; some academically, some emotionally, some socially.
We blame it on hormones, change of school and pre-teen attitudes but perhaps it’s because they are not grounded with enough foundational information and processes to tackle Middle School concepts and expectations with confidence.
Let’s remember to provide young children with these essential tools.
For those who may not have done this before middle school, help them by starting the conversations now.
It’s never too late. Their cognitive function might be slowing down but that doesn’t mean it isn’t active.

]]><![CDATA[Don't Underestimate - "math" TALK with bABIES]]>Mon, 11 May 2020 18:59:47 GMThttps://www.themathhelperwesterly.com/blog/dont-underestimate

How to talk "math" to babies...
Numerate Conversation: Infant to Pre-K
Written by:
Susie Scanapieco

I believe the most important thing I’ve learned being an educator, is to give children more credit than their age would suggest. Talking to kids is a science, an art and a philosophy all wrapped up into one. We are told that babies begin acquiring language pre-birth; in mom’s womb. How amazing is that! Yet, I think many adults only have “real” conversations with other adults. When’s the last time you had a real conversation with a four year-old? Did you ask them specific questions and did you sincerely expect a realistic response? If they gave you a silly response (which they should, they are four after-all) did you probe further to get to some more substantial information?

For those of you who responded 'yes' to these questions,
you have probably come to the conclusion, that children are brilliant!
Now, consider adding some mathematical vocabulary to the conversation.

0-6 months:
With a baby 0–6 months, talk to the baby the entire time he/she is awake. Did you poop again? Are you still hungry? Would you like more milk? What should we sing next? Why did you only sleep for 1 hour?

6-18 months:
From 6 months until they begin speaking phrases, additional conversations could be about their new accomplishments. For example, babies gain their physical strength, being able to pull themselves up or take steps, so accurately count with them, use vocabulary like up/down and left/right, and congratulate them on their latest feat. At this stage remember to look the baby in the eyes when talking to them and include “wait time” for them to respond. Their type of response isn’t important; it can be a nod, a giggle, a grunt, rarely words, but most importantly, they are learning how to have a conversation and how to take turns. It’s never too early to learn these very important life lessons. As the child learns how to speak, the conversations can become even more fun.

After 18 months:
After 18 months, don’t hold back! Accurate vocabulary at this point is essential. Can you please put the 3 pairs of shoes in the bin? Can you eat that last quarter of your sandwich? Would you like half of my banana? Three more minutes until bedtime. What time should we eat breakfast? How many times did the dog run around the house? When playing basketball, have a two point line and a three point line and keep score! For all of these questions expect correct answers and when they don’t know how to respond, it is important to teach them. No, the time isn’t said one, two, three, two. We say: the time is twelve thirty two. The dots in the middle separate the hours from the minutes. Even if that is the end of that conversation, being accurate and specific every time is necessary for the child’s future comprehension.

Preschool:
Preschool age children are the most fun to converse with; that’s why YouTube videos of them often go viral! They will say the darnedest things. So use their curiosity and eagerness to speak to get real conversations started. How much do you weigh? Can you make pattern with your blocks? When is your birthdate? What year were you born in? Which days of the week does Mommy go to work? Which month is your favorite? Do you have a favorite season? How much older/younger are you than your brother? How much money did you find in the couch? What can you buy with that? Jump over the ball. Hide under the table for 12 seconds.

Correcting their inaccuracies is essential,
you wouldn’t allow them to call milk juice,
so don’t let them call a nickel a penny.
They are soaking up all of these categories of vocabulary.

These words are the foundation of mathematics; therefore, these conversations should occur before kindergarten for the child to have a comfortable academic beginning in kindergarten.

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