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Building Numerical Literacy Every Day in Grades

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Published in Number Sense Routines: Building Numerical Literacy Every Day In Grades K 3

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Numerical literacy is the ability to understand and use numbers in everyday life. It's a fundamental skill that helps us make informed decisions about everything from personal finance to voting.

Unfortunately, many students struggle with numerical literacy. A 2013 study by the National Center for Education Statistics found that only 37% of 8th graders were proficient in math. This lack of proficiency has serious consequences: students who are not numerate are less likely to graduate from high school, attend college, or earn good jobs.

Number Sense Routines: Building Numerical Literacy Every Day in Grades K-3

by Jessica F. Shumway

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4207 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
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Print length	:	192 pages

The good news is that numerical literacy can be taught and improved upon. By incorporating number-rich activities into our daily routines, we can help our students develop the skills they need to succeed in school and in life.

What is numerical literacy?

Numerical literacy is the ability to understand and use numbers in everyday life. It includes the following skills:

Counting and reading numbers
Understanding place value
Solving simple math problems
Applying math concepts to real-world situations

Numerical literacy is a key component of mathematical literacy, which is the ability to understand and use mathematics in a variety of contexts. Mathematical literacy is essential for making informed decisions about our lives, our communities, and the world around us.

Why is numerical literacy important?

Numerical literacy is important for a number of reasons. First, it helps us to make informed decisions about our personal finances. We need to be able to understand our paychecks, balance our checkbooks, and make wise choices about how to spend our money.

Second, numerical literacy is important for our civic participation. We need to be able to understand the data that is presented to us by politicians and the media. We also need to be able to make informed decisions about how to vote.

Third, numerical literacy is important for our careers. Many jobs require employees to be able to use mathematics. For example, cashiers need to be able to add up totals, and engineers need to be able to solve complex equations.

How can we build numerical literacy?

There are many ways to build numerical literacy. One way is to incorporate number-rich activities into our daily routines. Here are a few ideas:

Talk about numbers with your children. Count objects together, compare sizes, and estimate quantities.
Play math games with your children. There are many fun and educational math games available.
Encourage your children to use math in their everyday lives. For example, they can help you measure ingredients when you're cooking or calculate your gas mileage.

In addition to these informal activities, there are also a number of formal ways to build numerical literacy. Schools can offer math classes, tutoring programs, and after-school clubs. There are also a number of online resources that can help students learn math.

Numerical literacy is an essential skill for success in school, in the workplace, and in life. By incorporating number-rich activities into our daily routines, we can help our students develop the skills they need to succeed.

Here are some additional tips for building numerical literacy in grades:

Start early. The earlier children are exposed to numbers, the better. Start counting with them as toddlers and encourage them to explore math concepts through play.
Make math fun. There are many ways to make math fun for children. Play games, sing songs, and use hands-on activities to help them learn.
Be patient. Learning math takes time and practice. Don't get discouraged if your child doesn't understand a concept right away. Keep providing them with opportunities to learn and practice.

With a little effort, we can help our students build the numerical literacy skills they need to succeed in school and in life.

Number Sense Routines: Building Numerical Literacy Every Day in Grades K-3

by Jessica F. Shumway

4.6 out of 5