Family and Community Support Family and Community Supports Workshop

Family and Community Support Scenario #1 Concerned Parent: My child doesn’t know his number facts. This school needs to get back to the basics and teach REAL math! Principal: …

Family and Community Support Individually … Make a list of the ‘math myths’ that might be commonly held by the community.

Family and Community Support In Pairs … Participant 1: Parent State a math myth from your list. Participant 2: Principal Dispel the misconception in the myth.

Family and Community Support Why Has Mathematics Instruction Changed? Myths and Facts

Family and Community Support Myth Fact Some people just can’t do math. Every adult and every child can do mathematics.

Family and Community Support Myth Fact Literacy is reading and writing. Literacy is far broader, including an understanding of graphs, tables, statistics, probability...

Family and Community Support Myth Fact Students learn math best through teacher-directed lessons. Students learn math best when they are active participants in the learning process.

Family and Community Support The use of calculators will have a negative impact on students’ computation skills. When used appropriately, calculators improve computation skills. Myth Fact

Family and Community Support Manipulatives are for young children. Manipulatives help connect abstract thought to something tangible --- for learners of ALL ages. Myth Fact

Family and Community Support Scenario #2 Parent: How can I help my child with math? It is so different from when I went to school.

Family and Community Support In Table Groups … Brainstorm a list of suggestions for helping parents support their children during homework time.

Family and Community Support Yes, I Can Help My Child I really can!

Family and Community Support Changes Textbooks and learning materials Types of questions posed Types of responses needed Assessment and grading Uses of class time

Family and Community Support Yes, I can … Talk about math in positive ways I’m sure you will understand if you… Let’s figure it out together. I could never do the math either. Don’t worry about the math.

Family and Community Support Yes, I can … Support my child through homework challenges by listening and asking questions

Family and Community Support Yes, I can … Allow my child to struggle through the process of problem solving. Discuss mistakes as learning opportunities.

Family and Community Support Questions to Ask … What do you need to find out? Tell me what you know? Show me what you started? What can you try first? Can you make a drawing or picture? Will a list or table help?

Family and Community Support Prompts … Ask your child to show you how he/she is finding the answer. Share your method. Explain to each other why your different methods are successful. Providing shortcuts for getting the answer might hinder deeper student understanding.

Family and Community Support Internet Sites … (Dr. Math) (ask a teacher) (lessons and tutorials)

Family and Community Support Scenario #3 Parent Council Chair: My council has asked that you allocate more funds for math materials that have a heavy emphasis on drill.

Family and Community Support In Pairs … Work together to develop a convincing argument that spending money on manipulatives and technology is wise. Be prepared to share your argument with the group.

Family and Community Support Manipulatives and Technologies Their Role in Teaching and Learning Mathematics

Family and Community Support Research … “Manipulatives support the conceptual development of important mathematical ideas for tactile and visual learners.”

Family and Community Support Research … Students learn in the presence of technology. Technology should influence the mathematics content taught and how it is taught.

Family and Community Support Vision … Engagement Confidence Skill development Motivation Relevance

Family and Community Support Geoboard How many different-sized squares can be made on an 11x11 geoboard?

Family and Community Support Scenario #4 As the Math Lead/Dept. Head you have been asked to organize: Grade 8 Information Night Curriculum Night for Parents Meet the Teacher Night Parent Interview Night

Family and Community Support In Table Groups … Make a list of helpful resources that you would develop or find to address parent questions at these events.

Family and Community Support Whole Group … In what other ways might you use the print materials?