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How can you encourage your kids to engage in conversations about math at home? This is a question many parents have asked me throughout my teaching career. Engaging children in math discussions outside of school expands their thinking and develops their quantitative skills. Since you're the expert on your child, you probably already know what approaches won’t work. Today, I'm sharing strategies parents have found successful in fostering engaging math discussions with their kids.

The initial challenge in engaging children in math discussions is often getting them to talk at all.  Several parents have lamented their childrens' taciturn nature whenever a school subject is brought up.  Questions like, "How was math today?" or "What did you do in math class?" rarely elicit more than monosyllabic replies.

A more effective approach is to prepare specific questions by checking platforms like Seesaw for lower school or Google Classroom for upper school beforehand.  For example, I recently saw a fourth grader teaching another student how to use the finger trick for the nine's times tables. A question you might ask is, "I've heard you can use your fingers for the 9's times tables. Do you know how it works?" Let them explain, and if they're unsure, explore it together.

Parents have also shared positive experiences getting their kids to talk about math by comparing how they learned certain math topics with how their children learn them today. One parent asked her son to explain the area model for division with the example 288 ÷ 3. Though he initially struggled, he figured out how to explain the concept, learning it for himself in the process.  He was eventually able to guide his mother through solving a similar problem, which  boosted his own understanding, illustrating how teaching can reinforce learning.

While these conversations can greatly enhance comprehension, some children may be reluctant to engage and may respond with one-word answers or show annoyance. Instead of pushing, which often leads to frustration, try saying, "I really want to understand this. Can we find a time to discuss it?" Alternatively, you can wait for a moment when they seem more willing to talk.

If you try any of these strategies, I’d love to hear how it goes! Please email me at tcalcagni@eabdf.br.  Also, feel free to reach out if there's a specific topic you'd like featured in a future article.