Welcome to the second semester at MES! Everyone is returning relaxed and ready to meet the challenges ahead. Last semester I wrote an article concerning literacy and our young children. This semester I would like to share some information about children and mathematics.

“Learning mathematics requires that children create and re-create mathematical relationships in their own minds. They need direct and concrete interaction with mathematical ideas.” Marilyn Burns

It may be fun to have a family math question such as, “How many times do you think a piece of yarn or string equal to your height would wrap around your head as a headband?” Want to give it a try? Write down everybody's estimate. Try it. What did you notice? Is there a difference in your perception and the answer? If you've never explored this ratio, you will need to measure to find this out. This proves that when we learn new concepts it is important that we experience and try it out. This is why you may hear your child come home and tell you that he played a math game and he may explain his discovery to you.

All children in elementary grades work on learning numbers and number sense. Students may demonstrate that numbers can be expressed in many different forms. For example, learners can show the number 4 as a written number, 4 dots, 4 beans, or 4 drawn objects. As they grasp deeper understanding, learners may show the number 4 as 3+1 or 10-6. Later you may notice your children using multiplication, division, fractions or decimals to express the number 4. As they grow as learners, we provide them with experiences to help increase their understanding of number and number sense.

In order for young children to grasp concepts, they must first understand and have concrete experiences upon which to build. Our math curriculum supports this research and provides our children with experiences prior to expecting mastery of a concept. We encourage our children to think and take risks. During the time when we as learners question or don't quite understand is moment we have the greatest potential to learn. Because we are a community of learners we welcome questions and wonders from everyone. Together we will be life-long learners and always seek to know more and more.

We look forward to seeing all of you on January 29 th for our Math and Science night. You and your families will enjoy experiencing and learning many exciting concepts. Remember, it is when we stretch our thinking that we will grow as learners.