Math books for parents?

In helping my son with his homework this evening, I realized that my math skills really suck. I had to google 'congruent', which way the arrows points to for 'greater than' and 'less than', and various other math topics that are just way too embarrassing for me to post here.   God help me when he starts doing fractions and decimals.

So, I was wondering if anyone knows of a parent's guide to math. I'm sure there are tons out there, but I'm hoping for recommendations. He's doing 2nd grade math now (in the US), and I am shaking in my boots just thinking about what's to come!  

Sorry no real help, but have you tried speaking to your son's teacher for a possible recommendation to help brush up on your skills?  Or possibly just reading through the chapter he's doing his equations from?  The texts from what I remember used to have the info for what you'd be doing before you did the applicable problems that should help with the understanding and sometimes for kids just having someone else to read it to them / with helps them understand it better.

My Dad used to teach Math (and AC/DC electronics) at a Vocational school in evenings so I used to refer to his texts to help me out with my maths skills, but that was while I was still at school.   

Good luck and you do know more than you think, its just the terms that are confusing!   

My University degree actually included 2 courses on teaching mathematics to elementary school students. It was very helpful and informative and very easy to use. Of course they've updated the edition since I used it in 2000 but this is the current edition and some used copies on Amazon are quite affordable: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0073224626/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used.

you do know more than you think, its just the terms that are confusing!   

I agree - often the concepts are quite simple, but the terminology makes it sound more complicated than it is. I spent 4 years doing university-level maths in my physics degree, but I still had to look up what 'congruent' meant when I read your post .

Sorry no real help, but have you tried speaking to your son's teacher for a possible recommendation to help brush up on your skills?  Or possibly just reading through the chapter he's doing his equations from? 

He doesn't have a math book (just worksheets handed out daily) and unfortunately, between the flu and a trip to England, he's missed a ton of school! I have a call in to his teacher, though. 

... you do know more than you think, its just the terms that are confusing!   

Highly unlikely! I'm definitely very math-deficient. I even have to count on my fingers! 

My University degree actually included 2 courses on teaching mathematics to elementary school students. It was very helpful and informative and very easy to use. Of course they've updated the edition since I used it in 2000 but this is the current edition and some used copies on Amazon are quite affordable: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0073224626/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used.

Thanks, WebyJ. I'll check that book out.

I agree - often the concepts are quite simple, but the terminology makes it sound more complicated than it is. I spent 4 years doing university-level maths in my physics degree, but I still had to look up what 'congruent' meant when I read your post .

Thanks for making me feel a little less stupid! 

My husband is an analytical freak, and he was helping my son with math the other day. Listening to his ridiculously complicated explanation made me want to poke my eyes out. Surely it doesn't have to be that complicated?! I'm a huge fan of teaching kids through games and interaction, so I've got to take control of my math fear now - lest my husband continue the role of teacher in the family. 

Eh, counting on fingers - its one of their many uses.     I still do it too and dread when DD goes to school let alone brings homework home that she'll need help with. 

Have you tried doing a search for math grade 2 on Amazon? 

I remember from school my teachers had these flashcard thingies held together on a pin...  I think they were called Brain Teasers, but I'm probably way off on their name.     They usually had questions and answers on them, but I'm not sure if they had them for grade 2.  I tried to have a look at the Holcomb's website, but it didn't seem to like me that much.  Oh well.

I'd definitely recommend contacting his teacher - I think they're usually used to this type of request.

My Son's school recently ran a couple of evening "lessons" for the parents on how they teach maths to years 4-6. Although my maths isn't too bad I found that they present the concepts of division, substraction etc in a different way to how I remember being taught - and we were getting constant battles at homework time "but that's not how Miss xxx told us to do it".

Here's one link that was mentioned, don't know if it's of any help:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/parents/work/primary/numeracy_and_science/maths_at_home_primary.shtml [nofollow]

I agree - often the concepts are quite simple, but the terminology makes it sound more complicated than it is. I spent 4 years doing university-level maths in my physics degree, but I still had to look up what 'congruent' meant when I read your post .

Whew! I thought I was lacking as well. Terminology has a lot to answer for!

A bit odd because we had a parent's night the other night and I discussed maths with the teacher and how they do it. She showed me what they were teaching and it's all the same as I was taught decades ago. I was surprised. Maybe different when they get up in the higher grades.

The boy has come across multiplication and keeps asking me what is X x Y and then tells me the answer! So I asked her if they were teaching it. No, but she said to carry on if he is into it.(Which is different than the attitudes when I was in school. I remember in 2nd grade getting into trouble for writing in cursive instead of print. I'll never forget that incident. It involved the principal and my parents.)

Hey Sevans...

I know as a teacher even, I have to look things up still, especially being over here in the UK now and the fact that some of the terminology is different. What I have found that helps is a trip to Staples and looking in the workbooks section. Both here and in the US. The workbooks in the US cover everything from IOWA tests to EOG (not sure what your state standardized test is there) and then here, for when you guys come, I picked up some Maths and English workbooks and revision books that cover all the areas of SATS, which are the UK equivalent now for standardized testing.

Either way, I find those to be simplified enough so that I can review something enough to understand it and it may show different methods of working things out so you are likely to know the way the boys are being taught at their school.