For Elementary Parents
Playing with Patterns: Algebraic Thinking Begins in Elementary School
Pattern recognition and generalization are important components of algebraic reasoning. At a very young age, children show interest in patterns. They explore and learn to understand patterns with color, size, shape, musical tones, movements, and objects. Observing, describing, repeating, extending, and creating patterns are all part of the learning. Students can predict what comes next, create their own patterns, duplicate a pattern, and look for missing elements in patterns.
Simple activities with repeating patterns help students learn to identify elements. For example, the pattern A, B, C, A, B, C, A, B, C, A,…includes the elements A, B, and C. Children begin to recognize the pattern and identify which letters would come next. Three-element repeating patterns can be made from shapes such as triangle, circle, square, triangle, circle, square,… colors such as blue, green, red, blue, green, red,… or they can be created through actions such as clap, pat, snap, clap, pat, snap,… (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, 2001).
As children move up in the grades, the patterns get more complex. Students can investigate the pattern, continue the pattern, and predict what comes next. They also learn to describe the change between elements in a pattern as it grows or decreases. Being able to describe in words builds a foundation for representing patterns using symbols and graphs. So “playing with patterns” in the elementary grades actually helps to build algebraic reasoning.
What are K-2 Book Levels?
During a parent-teacher conference, you may have heard that your child is reading on a certain book level. But you may not be sure what this book level means. Books are leveled based on things like words, sentence lengths, and content. These levels help teachers select books that will provide both the support and challenge that your child needs to become a better reader.
Choosing “Just- Right” Books
These leveled books are only a part of your child’s reading instruction.
The leveled books are often used in the guided reading groups where your child receives instruction from their teacher on reading strategies. Your child should also have opportunities to self select books they would like to read on their own. Your child’s teacher will teach them how to choose “just-right” books. “Just right” books are those that your child can read on their own without any support.
You can support your child’s reading development by providing opportunities for them to read books that they bring home. You can also take your child to the library where they can begin selecting their own “just-right” books to read. Encourage your child to select a variety of books that appeal to their interests. Do not worry about the level but rather help your child look at the book to decide if it is a “just-right” book for them.
Remember that book levels help your child’s teacher choose books to support readers. You can help your child by providing opportunities for reading and listening to stories.
Helpful Reading Website: www.starfall.com/
Primarily designed for K-2 students, this interactive website ranges from letters and sounds through independent reading. Practice opportunities are provided as well.
Elementary Social Studies Teaches the Basics
Beginning in 2010, social studies end-of-course exams will account for 40 percent of what students must pass to graduate from high school. There are no social studies exams in elementary school, so if you are the parent of an elementary student, you may be wondering, “Why is this important to me?”
The K-5 social studies curriculum plants seeds for later understanding of more complex concepts. You may be surprised to learn that 100 percent of the concepts in the Kindergarten social studies curriculum are present in the US History curriculum in high school. In short, a Kindergarten teacher plants very important social studies concepts that are the seeds that should lead to full grown understanding by the time they are tested in high school.
If you want to reinforce your child’s learning at home, your day-to-day family life is actually a great way to support social studies understanding.
Social Studies is the integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence. The K-5 social studies curriculum facilitates the development of reflective, competent and concerned citizens. In simple terms this means that elementarystudents need to develop a strong understandingof themselves, and their connection to others through thefamily, home, school, community, state and nation.
Social Studies Success Starts at Home
Did You Know?
• Family activities that help students understand their role and responsibilities within the family unit are beginning concepts of good citizenship.
• Inviting your child to help plan a family vacation will plant the seeds for understanding maps and geography.
• Chores, responsibilities and allowances give students a real life understanding of economics, wants and needs, as well as building good saving and spending habits.
Why is This Important?
Having these kinds of experiences, gives students the opportunity to see the social studies concepts they learn at school in a real world, personal way. They reinforce and build the geography, civics and economics concepts that can ultimately lead to a deeper understanding when it is time to take that EOC test.