Math Happiness Project

Many families worry about “summer slide” or wonder how to help their child feel more prepared (and confident) for math when school starts again. The good news is that supporting mathematical thinking does not have to feel like recreating school at home. In fact, some of the most meaningful math learning happens in low-pressure moments when children are exploring ideas naturally. Here are five things you can do this summer to help your child head into the fall feeling more confident, capable,...

Next time you're at the playground and your child says something is hard or asks for help, pay attention to what you do. You probably don't freeze. You don't take over. You find some version of staying close, offering just enough help, and letting them figure it out. When we do this, we’re supporting our children when they learn something new. But we don’t always take this approach when our children are learning new skills in other areas, and this can definitely be the case with math. ...

We all pass things on to our kids. Our dislike of green beans. Our strong opinions about the right way to load a dishwasher. And, often without realizing it…our math habits. Some of our habits are totally harmless (green beans aren’t really critical, right?). But a few of them can shape how children see themselves as math learners, sometimes for years. Fortunately, once you know what to look for, you can shift these habits. Below, we have five math habits to avoid passing on to your kids —...