By Khalida Sarwari
When conjuring math problems, images of worksheets next to a calculator and perhaps a ruler on a school table may typically spring to mind … not next to a lamp on a nightstand or on a bed. But that’s where the Saratoga Library is encouraging kids to tackle those problems.
Last month, the library announced a program called Bedtime Math. Developed by Laura Bilodeau Overdeck, an astrophysicist and founder of the Bedtime Math organization, the program promotes early math literacy geared toward children ages 3 to 9.
Families sign up to receive a math problem each night, either by email or the Bedtime Math website or Facebook page. They then read and solve the problem together with their child. Bedtime Math offers three levels of challenge for the children depending on their grade level.
The program encourages parents to read the math problems aloud with their children and let them work out the problems in their head. If children get stuck, it is recommend that parents break down the problem into different steps to help them solve it. Bedtime Math provides hints for parents to help them assist their children in solving problems.
To chart their child’s progress over the summer, parents can print a “Summer of Numbers” bedtime calendar or pick one up at the children’s desk at the Saratoga Library. Enrolling during the summer is beneficial in helping reduce the loss of math skills over the school break, according to the library. Families are encouraged to continue with the program throughout the school year.
Every branch of the Santa Clara County Library District offer the Bedtime Math program.
“This is a fabulous way to get kids interested,” said Saratoga community librarian Gayathri Kanth. “If you make math fun at a younger age, I think kids catch on. They really get interested in math.”
To introduce the program to its younger patrons, in June the Saratoga Library hosted a Party in Your PJs event, where dozens of kids showed up in their pajamas and participated in a variety of math games and activities, such as Monster Dominoes, Terrifically Twisted Tangrams and Bedtime Math Calendar. At the end of the program, the children were given their Bedtime Math calendars and stickers along with a take-home party favor bag that included tangram puzzles, a magnet and brochures for their parents. The event was wildly successful, Kanth said.
“We had about 80 kids, and they had a tremendous amount of fun,” she said. “From a library’s point of view, it’s another way to engage the community. I always maintain that our value to this community is being relevant; Supporting kids through their education is the best way to be relevant in the community.”
To sign up for a nightly dose of math, visit bedtimemath.org.
