Many parents ask how they can help their child with math at home. Games are a great way to support mathematical thinking in a more relaxed way. The math department has shared a number of ways to incorporate math into your family time. Many of the games below are available on Taobao, and where possible we have included a search term to help.
Activities are organized into board games, card games, and websites for math discussions.
Card Game Make 24:
Each player is dealt four cards from the deck and they must use all four cards to create an equation with a solution of 24 using elementary operations (+ – x ÷). This is a great game that encourages use of all four operations plus parentheses and the use of order of operations. For 7th grade and up have them write an expression in the correct format.
Math Boggle
Practice Concept(s): Arithmetic (Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division)
Change it up:
Make the game more challenging by using all of the cards: add in the Jack, Queen, and King (J=11, Q=12, and K=13).
Closest To: Comparing Fractions
Practice Concept(s): Fractions
Target Number
Practice Concept(s): Arithmetic (Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
Card Games for Dummies by
Card games offer loads of fun and one of the best socializing experiences out there. But picking up winning card strategies is a bit of a challenge, and though your buddies may think that picking up the rules of the game is easy, winning is a totally different story. With Card Games For Dummies, Second Edition, you'll not only be able to play the hottest card games around, you can also apply game-winning strategies and tips to have fun and beat your opponents. Now updated, this hands-on guide shows you everything you need to know--the basics, the tricks, and the techniques--to become a master card player, with expanded coverage on poker as well as online gaming and tournaments. Soon you will have the card-playing power to: Pin down your opponents in Texas Hold'em Show off your power in Stud Poker Hit wisely in Blackjack Break hearts ruthlessly in Hearts Mix up the night with Gin and Rummy Build yourself a victory in Bridge Send them fishing in Go Fish This straightforward, no-nonsense guide features great ways to improve your game and have more fun, as well as a list of places to find out more about your favorite game. It also profiles different variations of each game, making you a player for all seasons!
The Ultimate Book of Family Card Games by
Pick a card game--any game! Everyone loves to play cards, and this ultimate collection has all the fun favorites, including rummy, spades, war, old maid, go fish, snip snap snorem, and hearts. There are over 50 games in all, organized by type and difficulty, and complete with instructions, rules, strategies, color illustrations, and a brief note on each ones origins.
Beyond the Tiger Mom by 
Mathematical Mindsets by
Banish math anxiety and give students of all ages a clear roadmap to success Mathematical Mindsets provides practical strategies and activities to help teachers and parents show all children, even those who are convinced that they are bad at math, that they can enjoy and succeed in math. Jo Boaler--Stanford researcher, professor of math education, and expert on math learning--has studied why students don't like math and often fail in math classes. She's followed thousands of students through middle and high schools to study how they learn and to find the most effective ways to unleash the math potential in all students. There is a clear gap between what research has shown to work in teaching math and what happens in schools and at home. This book bridges that gap by turning research findings into practical activities and advice. Boaler translates Carol Dweck's concept of 'mindset' into math teaching and parenting strategies, showing how students can go from self-doubt to strong self-confidence, which is so important to math learning. Boaler reveals the steps that must be taken by schools and parents to improve math education for all. Mathematical Mindsets: Explains how the brain processes mathematics learning Reveals how to turn mistakes and struggles into valuable learning experiences Provides examples of rich mathematical activities to replace rote learning Explains ways to give students a positive math mindset Gives examples of how assessment and grading policies need to change to support real understanding Scores of students hate and fear math, so they end up leaving school without an understanding of basic mathematical concepts. Their evasion and departure hinders math-related pathways and STEM career opportunities. Research has shown very clear methods to change this phenomena, but the information has been confined to research journals--until now. Mathematical Mindsets provides a proven, practical roadmap to mathematics success for any student at any age.