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Make sure your child understands the importance of
math in elementary school.
Encourage your elementary school child in his/her
math homework. Remind him/her of the importance of
learning math for success in high school, college,
and beyond.
Many successful role models have accomplished great
feats because they loved science and math as
children: Fernando Peralta, Engineer at JPL in
Pasadena who is involved in managing the Mars
Project with NASA and Ellen Ochoa, the first
Hispanic woman astronaut.
Read all the reports that come from school. The No
Child Left Behind act requires States and school
districts to give parents easy-to-read, detailed
report cards on schools and districts, telling them
which ones are succeeding and why.
Pre/K
Science and Math for Young Children
Even if they are not in school yet, math and science
are subjects you can encourage your children to take
an interest in around the house:
Count the stairs you take everyday.
Have your kids help you in the kitchen to measure
ingredients, as this will develop counting skills.
Show your kids how a plant grows: Take a seed (a
bean will work) and put it in a clear plastic cup
with a bit of cotton and water and let nature take
its course.
This little experiment will help your child get
excited about science because he/she will actually
see what is happening Take him/her to the garden or
the park.
Observe the ants, the bees and the birds and talk
with your child about what he/she sees.
A Resource
for Mothers and Children
In today’s fast paced world and global interaction,
different from when we grew up, we sometimes assume
that our children will receive all the information
they need to succeed from school; however, we as
parents need to be more involved in our children’s
education to ensure they get what they need in order
to have a well rounded education for their success.
According to the National Education Association;
children whose parents are involved in their
education are more likely to graduate and move on to
higher education regardless of their income or
background.
Math and science are an integral part of our
children’s future.
Following you will find some information that can
assist you in ensuring that your child gets what he
or she needs in order to continue with higher
education and succeed, and at the same time
encourage love for math and science regardless of
what careers they choose for their future, as they
are critical for their future and the competition
they will face.
Tweens/Math
and Science
In the increasingly competitive global economy, it
is crucial for American students to be well trained
in math, science and critical languages. Today,
India and China are graduating engineers at a higher
rate than the U.S., which puts our children at a
disadvantage in the global market.
Encourage your Tween to take algebra in middle
school as well as science classes. Talk to his/her
counselor and if your child wants or needs tutoring,
find out what programs his/her school offers. Some
might even offer it for free. This is a critical
time in your child’s education to embrace and take
an interest in these subjects.
Teens
Help your child start and finish high school on
the right foot.
Learn your State's math and science requirements for
high school graduation. Encourage your child to take
four years of math and four years of science in high
school, even if it is not required.
Encourage your child to take more Advanced Placement
(AP) courses in high school. It is known that
students who take rigorous courses in high school
stand a far greater chance of succeeding in college.
Talk to your child’s counselor to map out a
curriculum that will help him/her achieve their goal
of higher education.
Sources: National
Education Association and the U.S. Department of
Education
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