Teaching Your Kids New Math, K-5 For Dummies

Help your child unlock their math potential with this intuitive guide to teaching new math

Teaching Your Kids New Math, K-5 For Dummies makes it easy to understand the new math being taught to students in kindergarten to Grade 5, showing parents and guardians how to help their kids with the new methods and concepts that have been introduced since they finished school.

You’ll discover the math-teaching basics you need to help your kids with their math homework while becoming familiar with the grids, arrays, diagrams, and arrows that math students use today. You’ll also get:

• A step-by-step walkthrough for teaching young students essential math concepts, even if you think you’re not a “math person”
• Best practices, example problems, and tips and tricks about specific math topics that will help your youngster move forward
• Ways to avoid common and typical math pitfalls and frustrations that trap math students and teachers

Full of real-world examples and applications, Teaching Kids New Math, K-5, For Dummies is your essential companion to helping your child master their math assignments and have fun while you’re doing it!

Dr. Kris Jamsa is the author of 115 books on computing and education. He holds eight college degrees, which include a PhD in Computer Science, a PhD in Education, and a Masters in Education with a focus on multiple intelligences. Jamsa was the founder of the Head of the Class series, an e-learning portal for kindergarten through fifth grade.

Introduction 1

About This Book 1

Foolish Assumptions 2

Icons Used in This Book 2

Beyond the Book 3

Where to Go from Here 3

Part 1: Laying Down the Basics with Kindergarten Math 5

Chapter 1: Unleashing Your Inner Math Teacher 7

I’m Not Sure I Remember “Old Math,” and Now There Is “New Math” 8

Old Math, New Math, Common Core Math 9

It’s Not Too Late to Get Started 9

Your Return on Investment 10

Establish Your Routine 10

Keep a Positive Attitude 11

Chapter 2: Knowing the Number Names 1 to 9 13

Preparing for a Lesson 14

Practicing Counting with Flash Cards 15

Counting different objects 16

Pointing out numbers 16

Writing the Numbers 1 through 9 16

Counting Objects and Writing the Corresponding Number 17

Identifying Numbers on Playing Cards 18

Counting Numbers on a Number Line 18

Learning Your Phone Number 19

Chapter 3: Moving on up to 20 21

Tiptoeing into the Teens 21

Working with a number line for numbers 1 through 15 23

Identifying matching numbers on a number line 24

Reviewing Your Phone Number 24

Going All the Way to 20 24

Counting the Numbers 1 through 20 Using a Number Line 25

Reviewing the Numbers 1 through 20 Using Flash Cards 25

Counting the numbers from 1 through 20 forward and backward 26

Identifying and writing missing numbers from 1 through 20 27

Counting objects from 1 through 20 using a worksheet 27

Learning the Relationship between Numbers 1 through 10 and 11

through 20 27

Counting by Twos through 20 28

Where To? Knowing Your Address 28

Chapter 4: Comparing Numbers: Understanding More and Less 31

Understanding More, Less, and Equal 32

Bringing out the straws! 32

Comparing numbers on a number line 33

Learning the Greater-than, Less-than, and Equal Symbols 33

Learning the less-than symbol 34

Learning the greater-than symbol 35

Learning the equal symbol 36

Practicing all three symbols 36

Comparing numbers using a deck of cards 37

Comparing numbers on a worksheet 37

Knowing and Counting the Numbers 1 through 30 38

Filling in the gaps: Identifying missing numbers from 1 through 30 39

Comparing numbers from 1 through 30 40

Comparing numbers 1 through 30 using a worksheet 40

Revisiting Counting Straws 40

Chapter 5: Understanding Positions, Sorts, and Categorization of Objects 41

Understanding In Front, Behind, and Next To 42

Categorizing Objects 42

Working up to Fabulous 40 43

Identifying Missing Numbers from 1 through 40 45

Moving on to Fantastic 50 45

Identifying Missing Numbers from 1 through 50 47

Comparing Numbers from 1 through 50 47

Comparing Numbers 1 through 50 Using a Worksheet 48

Revisiting Counting Straws 48

Chapter 6: Getting Specific about Size and Shape 49

Knowing the Concepts of Bigger, Smaller, and the Same 50

Learning to Measure 50

Learning to measure with a ruler 51

Understanding and measuring inches 51

Drawing lines using the ruler 52

Using a tape measure 52

Weighing Different Objects 53

Edging up to 80 53

Identifying missing numbers from 1 through 80 55

Comparing numbers from 1 through 80 55

Comparing numbers through 80 using a worksheet 56

Counting straws through 80 56

Evaluating Common Shapes 56

Knowing the Numbers 1 through 100 58

Identifying missing numbers from 1 through 100 59

Comparing numbers from 1 through 100 59

Comparing numbers through 100 using a worksheet 60

Chapter 7: Adding and Subtracting the Numbers 1 through 10 61

Starting with Basic Addition 62

Using straws to understand addition 62

Practicing written addition using index cards 62

Demonstrating comprehension of expressions using straws 64

Doing addition on a worksheet 64

Using a number line to add numbers 65

Adding numbers on a worksheet using a number line 66

Adding numbers using flash cards 66

Practicing addition through 10 using a worksheet 68

Take It Away! Understanding Subtraction 68

Subtracting with straws 68

Practicing written subtraction using index cards 69

Learning to subtract using a number line 70

Subtracting numbers on a worksheet using a number line 70

Subtracting numbers using flash cards 71

Practicing subtraction through 10 using a worksheet 73

Mixing It Up: Doing Addition and Subtraction 73

Understanding the Concept of Zero 74

Adding zero to a number 74

Subtracting zero from a number 75

Using flash cards to add zero to a number 75

Adding zero to a number on a worksheet 76

Subtracting zero from a number using flash cards 76

Subtracting zero from a number on a worksheet 77

Part 2: Figuring Out First Grade Math 79

Chapter 8: Adding and Subtracting through 100 without Regrouping 81

Identifying the Tens and Ones Places 82

Recognizing the tens and ones places 82

Recognizing tens on the number line 83

Identifying the tens and ones places using a worksheet 84

Adding and Subtracting Numbers through 100 without Regrouping 85

Adding numbers through 100 without regrouping 85

Using a number line to add large numbers 86

Using boxes to add large numbers 88

Adding numbers through 100 without regrouping and without boxes 89

Subtracting numbers through 100 without regrouping 90

Using a number line to subtract large Numbers 91

Using boxes to subtract large numbers 93

Subtracting large numbers without regrouping or boxes 94

Mixing addition and subtraction problems on the same worksheet 95

Reviewing Flash Cards for Addition and Subtraction through 10 95

Completing a Timed Worksheet 96

Chapter 9: Pairing Numbers with Telling Time 97

Understanding the Concept of Time 98

Understanding how time relates to day and night 98

Knowing an hour has 60 minutes 99

Identifying hours and minutes on a digital clock 99

Adding one minute to a time with 59 minutes 100

Counting by Fives 101

Telling Time Using an Analog Clock 102

Knowing the five-minute intervals on the clock 104

Learning the concept of seconds 105

Working on Addition and Subtraction through 20 105

Reviewing addition through 20 105

Reviewing addition through 20 using a worksheet 106

Reviewing subtraction through 20 106

Reviewing subtraction through 20 using a worksheet 108

Counting by 2 through 100 108

Reviewing Counting by 10 through 100 109

Chapter 10: Getting a Feel for Fractions 111

Understanding Fractions 111

Identifying the Parts of a Fraction 115

Drawing Equivalent Fractions 116

Understanding Mixed Numbers 117

Recognizing Equivalent Fractions 118

Measuring Using Fractions 119

Comparing Fractions 119

Chapter 11: Introducing Charts, Graphs, and Word Problems 121

Reading Simple Charts 122

Creating Their Own Chart 125

Starting with Simple Word Problems 127

Part 3: Advancing with Second Grade Math 131

Chapter 12: Starting to Do Math in Their Head 133

Beginning to Add and Subtract Mentally 133

Mentally adding numbers through 20 134

Adding numbers through 20 using a number line 134

Adding numbers through 20 using a deck of playing cards 135

Mentally adding numbers through 20 using a worksheet 135

Mentally subtracting numbers through 20 136

Subtracting numbers through 20 using a number line 136

Subtracting numbers through 20 using a deck of playing cards 137

Mentally subtracting numbers through 20 using a worksheet 138

Counting to 1,000 by One Hundreds 138

Reviewing the Tens and Ones Places 139

Knowing the Hundreds, Tens, and Ones Places 139

Identifying Missing Numbers from 1 to 1,000 140

Adding and Subtracting Large Numbers without Regrouping 140

Adding using boxes 141

Adding without boxes 142

Subtracting three-digit numbers using boxes 143

Subtracting without boxes 144

Revisiting Mental Addition and Subtraction 145

Mentally adding 10 145

Mentally subtracting 10 146

Mentally adding 100 to a number 146

Mentally subtracting 100 from a number 147

Comparing Large Numbers 148

Chapter 13: Having Some Fun with Money and Calendars 149

Counting Change 150

Counting pennies on a worksheet 150

Understanding the value of a nickel 150

Knowing that a dime is worth 10 cents 151

Knowing a quarter equals 25 cents 152

Counting the correct amount of change 153

Understanding Calendars 153

Knowing the days of the week 154

Knowing the months of the year 154

Understanding a calendar 155

Writing a date 155

Chapter 14: Revisiting Fractions 157

Reviewing Fractions 157

Mixing Things up with Mixed Numbers 158

Understanding What Equivalent Fractions Are 159

Comparing Fractions 159

Creating Equivalent Expressions 160

Creating equivalent expressions using addition 160

Creating equivalent expressions using subtraction 161

Creating Equivalent Expressions Using Addition and Subtraction 162

Chapter 15: Adding and Subtracting with Regrouping 165

Reviewing Addition without Regrouping 166

Using Boxes to Solve Addition Problems that Require Regrouping 166

Solving Addition Problems that Require Regrouping without Boxes 169

Adding Numbers Using Decomposition 171

Reviewing Subtraction without Regrouping 172

Understanding the Concept of “Borrowing” 173

Learning to Check Their Work 175

Using New Math to Add and Subtract Large Numbers 176

Using an open number line to add numbers 176

Performing subtraction using a number line 177

Checking Their Work Using a Number Line 179

Part 4: Tackling Third Grade Math 181

Chapter 16: Introducing Basic Multiplication and Division 183

Understanding the Multiplication Process 183

Using tables to multiply numbers 185

Multiplication is repeated addition 186

Multiplying by 1 187

Multiplying by 0 187

Practicing multiplication flash cards 188

Completing multiplication problems on a worksheet 189

Multiplying any number by 10 190

Understanding the Division Process 191

Solving division problems using multiplication 192

Using tables to perform division 192

Dividing by 1 194

Knowing that you cannot divide a number by 0 194

Practicing with division flash cards 194

Completing division problems on a worksheet 196

Checking Their Work 196

Chapter 17: Multiplying and Dividing Large Numbers 199

Reviewing Multiplication through 10 and Preparing for Timed Tests 199

Multiplying Two-Digit Numbers by Single-Digit Numbers (Old School) 200

Multiplying two, two-digit numbers 202

Multiplying numbers through 100 204

Multiplying Numbers Using the Box Method (New Math) 205

Revisiting Division through 100 and Preparing for Timed Tests 209

Recognizing the Second Format for Division 210

Dividing with a Remainder 210

Dividing Larger Numbers 211

Dividing Large Numbers with a Remainder 214

Reviewing How to Check Work 216

Chapter 18: Going Deeper with Charts, Fractions, and Word Problems 217

Rounding Numbers 217

Rounding numbers through 10 218

Rounding numbers through 100 219

Reviewing Charts 220

Charting data 221

Using point data 222

Reading data on pie charts 224

Adding Like Fractions 226

Subtracting Like Fractions 227

Reducing Fractions 228

Revisiting Word Problems 230

Part 5: Focusing on Fourth Grade Math 233

Chapter 19: Mixing and Matching Operations 235

Working with Complex Expressions 235

Performing Multiplication and Division before Addition and Subtraction 237

Performing Operations within Parentheses First 238

Chapter 20: Understanding Factors through 100 and Numbers through 1,000,000 239

Factoring a Number 240

Understanding and Recognizing Prime Numbers 241

Creating a Factor Tree 242

Recognizing Place Values through 1,000,000 243

Placing a Comma in Big Numbers 246

Chapter 21: Pressing on with Even and Odd Numbers and Number Patterns 247

Knowing Even and Odd Numbers 247

Recognizing Number Patterns 248

Chapter 22: Doing Math with Multi-digit Numbers 251

Reviewing Addition with Regrouping 252

Adding Three Rows of Multi-digit Numbers 252

Adding Numbers through 1,000

(Old School) 254

Adding Multi-digit Numbers through 10,000 255

Adding Multi-digit Numbers Using a Number Line (New School) 256

Adding Numbers Using Rounding 258

Subtracting Multi-digit Numbers 260

Subtracting multi-digit numbers using borrowing (old school) 260

Subtracting multi-digit numbers using a number line (new school) 263

Solving subtraction problems using rounding 264

Multiplying Multi-digit Numbers (Old School) 266

Multiplying Multi-digit Numbers Using the Box Method (New School) 269

Dividing Multi-digit Numbers 271

Chapter 23: Going Deeper with Fractions 273

Reviewing Adding Fractions 274

Reviewing Subtracting Fractions 274

Revisiting Fractions and Mixed Numbers 275

Reducing Improper Fractions 277

Reducing Fractions 278

Solving Word Problems That Use Fractions 281

Part 6: Advancing to Fifth Grade Math 283

Chapter 24: Interpreting Mathematical Expressions 285

Solving Problems Using Multiple Operations 286

Solving Problems with Multi-digit Numbers 286

Solving Problems Grouped by Parentheses 287

Completing Equivalent Expressions 288

Revisiting Expressions with Parentheses 289

Comparing Expressions Using >, <, and = 290

Chapter 25: Revisiting Fractions, One More Time 293

Comparing Fractions 293

Adding Unlike Fractions 295

Subtracting Unlike Fractions 296

Multiplying Fractions 297

Dividing Fractions 297

Working with Mixed Numbers 298

Multiplying mixed numbers 300

Dividing mixed numbers 300

Chapter 26: Knowing the Point of Decimals 303

Revisiting Money 304

Knowing the Tenths and Hundredths Places 305

Recognizing the tenths place 305

Recognizing the hundredths place 307

Adding Numbers with Decimal Points 310

Subtracting Numbers with Decimal Points 311

Multiplying Numbers with Decimal Points 312

Recognizing Equivalent Decimals 313

Dividing Numbers with Decimal Points 314

Chapter 27: Looking at Lines, Angles, Areas, and Perimeters 317

Recognizing Parallel and Perpendicular Lines 318

Recognizing Common Angles 319

Calculating the Perimeter of a Rectangle 321

Understanding the Special Rectangle: The Square 322

Calculating the Perimeter of a Triangle 324

Knowing the Parts of a Circle 324

Calculating the Circumference of a Circle 326

Calculating the Area of a Shape 327

Calculating the area of a rectangle or square 327

Calculating the area of a triangle 328

Calculating the area of a circle 330

Part 7: The Part of Tens 331

Chapter 28: Top Ten Things to Remember about Teaching Your Child Math 333

Establish Your Child’s Baseline 333

Set Aside 15 Minutes a Day, Every Day 334

Keep the Focus on Your Child 334

Be Patient 334

Use Additional Resources 335

Take Time to Master Each Grade Level 335

Point Out Math in the Real World 335

Praise the Things Your Child Does Well 335

Talk with Your Child’s Teacher 336

Keep It Fun 336

Chapter 29: Ten Next Steps in Your Child’s Education 337

Read with Your Child 337

Be Involved 338

Keep Video Games to a Reasonable Amount 338

Help Your Child Learn Computer Skills 338

Implement a Word of the Day 339

Ensure Adequate Sleep Time 339

Encourage Learning a Musical Instrument 339

Learn a Second Language Together 339

Listen and Talk to Your Child 340

Involve Your Child 340

Index 341

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