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As evidenced above, the benefits of reading to your child go well beyond the 20 minutes that you may take to snuggle up together with a book.  The time spent together is an investment in your child's future as a learner, no matter how old. 

Selecting that special book for this special time matters.  Young children particularly love the familiar and sometimes it is hard to get away from reading the same book every night.  If this is something you experience with your child, extend your reading time just a little bit.  Read your child's old favorite and then bring out your choice. Sometimes, the book of your choice may be one that can extend learning that your child is experiencing in school. 

Take a minute to think back to your own mathematics instruction...  Chances are that when many of us reflect back on our own mathematics instruction, we can recall a series of lessons designed to have us master a skill using paper and pencil.  However, today's mathematics instruction goes beyond the traditional paper and pencil approach.  Today's students are expected to understand the concepts at hand and apply them in many different settings. 

In order to accomplish this tremendous goal, educators are presenting students with varied opportunities where they can construct an understanding of the mathematical concepts that are developmentally appropriate for them.  For instance, there has been a strong trend in to incorporate the use of  hands-on manipulative approaches into the teaching of mathematics in the elementary school and in upper grades.

Additionally, there is a growing body of research that supports the inclusion of children's literature into the teaching, learning and reinforcement of mathematics. Traditionally, children's literature has been used solely in the development of reading and language skills, however, there is now an increased emphasis on developing important skills in both math and language at the same time through the use of children's literature.

Literature provides a way for children to make mathematics learning and reinforcement much more personal.  Literature is a way to give math meaning. The literature can help children see how math will be useful to them in the "real world."  Literature opens the door to thinking mathematically and logically in real world situations.

A wonderful example of a book that can be used in this way is Pat Hutchins' The Doorbell Rang. The children in the book have a batch of cookies they are trying to divide among themselves. As the story progresses, more and more friends arrive. They must continually figure out how many cookies each person gets. Sharing cookies is a situation with which all school children can relate and it makes the division problem very real.  A book such as this not only reinforces various mathematical concepts, such as problem solving, but it also offers younger readers a repetitive text that quickly satisfies the need for familiarity.

Think of the many wonderful benefits to spending time reading and reinforcing math with your child:

• Math becomes a part of your life.

• Your child will learn important math language.

• Children who love math may become more interested in reading.

• Children who love reading may become more interested in math.

• You can make reading and math fun!

The following list offers mathematical concepts that your child may be experiencing in school, as well as pieces of children's literature that you can enjoy at home, while reinforcing these necessary skills.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when reading books, such as those listed above:

• When the character(s) come upon a math problem, stop before the character(s) solves the problem and discuss with your child how he / she would solve it.  Then read on to find out what the character does.

• Have your child verbalize his/her thinking as the problem is being solved.  Have your child write or act it out, draw about it.  This will help your child to process his/her thoughts.  Remember errors are an opportunity to learn something new.

The titles above are only a sampling of the many wonderful pieces of children's literature that reinforce a variety of math concepts.  Parents/guardians are encouraged to visit their local library and/or bookstore to explore the above and the many others that exist. The following site offers a host of other titles that apply to the above mathematical concepts:

 http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Estates/4967/math.html

If you are also looking for other great ways to become involved in your child's development as a mathematician, visit the following websites:

http://www.ed.gov/pubs/parents/Math/mathhome.html

http://www.math.com/parents/articles/funmath.html

http://www.peel.edu.on.ca/parents/tips/documents/tip-explore.pdf

http://www.nncc.org/Curriculum/fc46_cook.kids.html
(cooking with your child is a great way to make math real)