1. What Is the Purpose of Family Math?

Family Math

Category: Mathematics Grade level: Grades K to 9

1. What is the purpose of Family  a guide to the mathematics activities Math? corresponding to content topics The purpose of Family Math is to covered in the regular curriculum increase the involvement of  a resource list for parents and underrepresented students, such as non- teachers Asian minorities and women in the The program also includes 2-day domain of mathematics. The program leaders’ workshops to prepare parents attempts to achieve its purpose by and teachers to be instructors in the increasing parental involvement in program. children's mathematics learning. 4. What teaching procedures should 2. With whom can it be used? be used with Family Math? The program has been shown to be Specific teaching procedures vary by effective with students of all abilities. activity. However there are several instructional principles which are 3. What is the format of Family emphasized in the program: Math?  Problem solving: Modeling the Family Math was created by Jean Kerr many ways that solutions can be Stenmark, Virginia Thompson and Ruth found. Cossey at the Lawrence Hall of Science  Manipulatives: Use of concrete at the University of California. For materials to reinforce concepts. information about the program or copies  Support: A supportive environment of the book contact: is provided so that parents and children feel comfortable doing Lawrence Hall of Science mathematics. University of California  Reinforcement: There is Berkeley, CA 94720 reinforcement of concepts taught in Attn: FAMILY MATH the regular curriculum.  Explanations: Explanations are (510) 642-1823 program provided for why children are taught (510) 642-1910 books particular concepts at certain ages, (510) 643-5757 fax how these concepts are related, and why these concepts are relevant to The Family Math book includes: everyday life.  activities  Teaching style: A teaching style is  suggested hands-on materials to use taught to parents, which emphasizes with each activity children's early success with  instructions for organizing a Family mathematics, individualized Math class learning, extensions of activities which can be taken home, strategies to generate enthusiasm and a positive Berkeley: University of California, attitude. Lawrence Hall of Science.  The use of role models-Men and 3. Thompson, V. & Kreinberg, N. women from the community working (1986). Family Math: A Report of an in math occupations talk to Family Intervention Program that Involves Math classes about how math is used Parents in their Children's in their jobs. Mathematics Education. Paper 5. In what types of settings is Family presented at the Annual Meeting of Math useful? the American Association for the Family Math has been shown to be Advancement of Science, useful as an extra-curricular activity Philadelphia. outside of regular class hours. The course is usually taught by a Reviewed by: Naomi Slonim parent/teacher team in a school, church or community centre.

6. To what extent has research shown Family Math to be useful? Parents who attended Family Math classes in the first year of the program and submitted follow-up questionnaires indicated that they became more involved in their children's math-related learning. After attending Family Math classes, parents were more likely to play math games with their children, help with homework, talk about everyday math in news articles, talk to their children about math-related jobs and careers, and talk to their child's teacher about math. Following the course, parents were also more likely to try to improve their own math skills by purchasing a math puzzle or book, purchasing a math refresher book, or taking another math class. One third of parents who took a Family Math course said that they learned more math in the course.

References 1. Kreinberg, N. (1989). The practice of equity. Peabody Journal of Education, 66, 127-146. 2. Stenmark, J.K., Thompson, V. & Cossey, R. (1986). Family Math.