Developed under the leadership of Ruth Parker and Patty Lofgren in collaboration with a team of nationally recognized experts in mathematics education (Heinemann Press, 2006).

Addition and Subtraction in the Primary Grades is designed to help parents understand the role of mental arithmetic in developing numerical reasoning. Parents experience the kinds of lessons that help young children learn basic facts in meaningful contexts and through reasoning rather than rote memorization and isolated drill. The session focuses on ways to help children become fluent with small numbers and emphasizes the importance of such fluency as a foundation for working with larger numbers. The content of this session is appropriate for teachers and parents of grades K through 3.

 

Encouraging Mathematical Thinkers is designed to engage parents in a rich mathematical investigation involving probability. The importance of communication in mathematics classrooms is highlighted in the session, and parents experience how facility with numbers can be developed within important mathematical contexts. The content of this session is appropriate for teachers and parents of grades 3 through 8, and students of grades 4 through 8.

 

 

Multiplication Across the Grades is designed to help parents learn about how multiplication can be taught for understanding. Parents experience ways to teach multiplication in important and engaging mathematical contexts such as probability, geometry and data analysis. Fun and engaging ways to provide practice with basic facts are highlighted. The difference between a focus on rote memorization and a focus on knowing and understanding is highlighted. The content of this session is appropriate for teachers and parents of grades 3 through 8, and students of grades 4 - 8.

 

 

Fractions Across the Grades is designed to help parents understand what it means to teach for conceptual understanding and the importance of developing mathematical understandings over time. Parents experience how fractions can be taught in a problem-solving context. The session uses lessons from grades 3 through 5 of the K-5 series Investigations In Number, Data, & Space.   The content of this session is appropriate for teachers and parents of grades 3 through 6, and students of grades 4 through 6.

 

How to Help Your Child with Math at Home is designed to help parents understand the importance of playing with math in the home.  Participants experience several mathematical games designed to build fluency with number.  The session also helps parents learn how to help their children when they are stuck on a math problem. The importance of persistence is highlighted. The content of the session is appropriate for parents and teachers of grades 3 through 8, and students of grades 4 - 8.

 

More Ideas for Helping Your Child at Home is designed to help parents understand the importance of teaching for conceptual understanding, and that math facts can and should be practiced within engaging mathematical contexts. Parents experience games that they are encouraged to take home and play as a family. The session focuses on parents’ roles in helping children build productive dispositions toward mathematics.  By design, the session follows How to Help Your Child with Math at Home, but it can also be done as a stand-alone session. The content of the session is appropriate for parents, teachers, and students of grades 4 through 8.

Reprinted with permission of Heinemann Press

 Supporting School Mathematics, to Heinemann >