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Elementary Math Curriculum

An elementary math curriculum for supplementary or home school should teach much more than the "how to" of simple arithmetic. A good math curriculum should have elementary math activities that build a solid foundation which is both deep and broad, conceptual and "how to".

Time4Learning teaches a comprehensive math curriculum using fun, elementary math activities to build a solid math foundation. Heblp your child excel in math, learn more about Time4Learning's elementary math curriculum.

Teaching Elementary Math Strategies

Children should acquire math skills using elementary math activities that teach a curriculum in a proper sequence designed to build a solid foundation for success. Let's start with what appears to be a simple math fact: 3 + 5 = 8

This fact seems like a good math lesson to teach, once a child can count. But the ability to appreciate the concept "3 + 5 = 8" requires an understanding of these elementary math concepts:

• Quantity - realizing that numbers of items can be counted. Quantity is a common concept whether we are counting fingers, dogs or trees.
• Number recognition - knowing numbers by name, numeral, pictorial representation, or a quantity of the items.
• Number meaning - resolving the confusion between numbers referring to a quantity or to the position in a sequence (cardinal vs. ordinal numbers.
• Operations - Understanding that quantities can be added and that this process can be depicted with pictures, words, or numerals.

To paint a more extreme picture, trying to teach addition with "carrying over" prior to having a solid understanding of place value is a recipe for confusion. Only after mastering basic math concepts should a child try more advanced elementary math activities, like addition. Trying to teach elementary math strategies prior to mastering basic math concepts cause confusion, creating a sense of being lost or of being weak at math. A child can end up developing a poor self image or a negative view of math.all because of a poor math curriculum.

It's important to implement an elementary math curriculum that teaches math in a sequence, using elementary math activities that allows children to progressively build understandings, skills, and confidence. Quality teaching and curriculum follows a quality sequence.

Time4Learning tests your child to determine their math strengths and weaknesses. Then teaches a personalized, elementary math curriculum geared to your child's current skill level, making sure that your child has a solid math foundation before introducing harder, more complex elementary math strategies. Get your child on the right path, learn more about Time4Learning's strategies for teaching elementary math.

Time4Learning's Elementary Math Curriculum

Time4Learning's math curriculum contains a wide range of elementary math activities, which cover more than just arithmetic, math facts, and operations. Our elementary math curriculum teaches these five math strands.*

• Number Sense and Operations - Knowing how to represent numbers, recognizing 'how many' are in a group, and using numbers to compare and represent paves the way for grasping number theory, place value and the meaning of operations and how they relate to one another.
• Algebra - The ability to sort and order objects or numbers and recognizing and building on simple patterns are examples of ways children begin to experience algebra. This elementary math concept sets the groundwork for working with algebraic variables as a child's math experience grows.
• Geometry and Spatial Sense - Children build on their knowledge of basic shapes to identify more complex 2-D and 3-D shapes by drawing and sorting. They then learn to reason spatially, read maps, visualize objects in space, and use geometric modeling to solve problems. Eventually children will be able to use coordinate geometry to specify locations, give directions and describe spatial relationships.
• Measurement - Learning how to measure and compare involves concepts of length, weight, temperature, capacity and money. Telling the time and using money links to an understanding of the number system and represents an important life skill.
• Data Analysis and Probability - As children collect information about the world around them, they will find it useful to display and represent their knowledge. Using charts, tables, graphs will help them learn to share and organize data.

Elementary math curriculums that cover just one or two of these five math strands are narrow and lead to a weak understanding of math. Help your child build a strong, broad math foundation. Learn more about Time4Learning's elementary math curriculum.