Supporting Practice Sent Home

Students may bring math practice home, with which they may need help. It helps to uncover whether they need support with the language (understanding what they are being asked to do) or with the concepts (using math).

If the issue is language, consider these strategies:

• What are key vocabulary words needed to understand the questions? This might include math vocabulary, but also words that describe context. If there are unknown words, use a dictionary to look these up.
• If understanding vocabulary is not enough, it might help for the helping adult to translate the text for their own understanding, so that the assisting adult can reword the problem in the language used at home. The focus here is on giving the student enough context to be able proceed with their practice.

If the issue is understanding the concept, try:

• Reviewing any notes or materials used in class. Do any of these clarify the concept?
• Asking the classroom teacher for help explaining the concept and/or for materials to explore and practice the concept to develop a stronger understanding.