Family Math Night KCTM 2008

1. Family Math Night KCTM 2008 Presented by Math Intervention Teachers of Kentucky Our purpose today is to share our Family Math Night experiences with you. We hope that you gather some ideas in helping you to implement a Family Math Night at your school. Our purpose today is to share our Family Math Night experiences with you. We hope that you gather some ideas in helping you to implement a Family Math Night at your school.

2. I found this quote while preparing for this presentation and thought it fit very well with our beliefs. There is no ONE way to organize a Family Math Night. We are here to offer suggestions that you may wish to include when planning for a Family Math Night. Remember that you are the EXPERT on what will work best in your community and school.I found this quote while preparing for this presentation and thought it fit very well with our beliefs. There is no ONE way to organize a Family Math Night. We are here to offer suggestions that you may wish to include when planning for a Family Math Night. Remember that you are the EXPERT on what will work best in your community and school.

3. Planning a Family Math Night Is very similar to planning a lesson. When you begin thinking about conducting a FMN, you will be able to find lots of good information on the internet. Just google Family Math or Family Math Night and you will find lots of sites and information. So, I did not want to give you the same things that are easily obtained on the net – I wanted to present you with something a little different so I decided to show how planning a family math night is very similar to preparing for your lessons.When you begin thinking about conducting a FMN, you will be able to find lots of good information on the internet. Just google Family Math or Family Math Night and you will find lots of sites and information. So, I did not want to give you the same things that are easily obtained on the net – I wanted to present you with something a little different so I decided to show how planning a family math night is very similar to preparing for your lessons.

4. Pre-Assess Get to know your participants Assess parental needs Survey during Open House in August Best time, concerns and attitudes Accommodations, needs Inform them of FMN – invite them to be involved. Just as you consider different learning styles of children, different needs of children, and their current level of knowledge about a particular concept before teaching a lesson, the same can be said about caregivers. Taking a survey at the beginning of the year to determine the needs of your caregivers will go a long way in the success of your Family Math Night. This could be conducted during open house – set up a table and have parents fill our a survey. The survey items could include questions such as the night parents would most likely attend a school function, the time, concerns about their children’s mathematical learning, and their attitudes about math. Also, just as you make accommodations for the needs of your students, you need to consider accommodations for the needs of the parents (parents with visual impairments, hearing difficulties, physical mobility). Just as you consider different learning styles of children, different needs of children, and their current level of knowledge about a particular concept before teaching a lesson, the same can be said about caregivers. Taking a survey at the beginning of the year to determine the needs of your caregivers will go a long way in the success of your Family Math Night. This could be conducted during open house – set up a table and have parents fill our a survey. The survey items could include questions such as the night parents would most likely attend a school function, the time, concerns about their children’s mathematical learning, and their attitudes about math. Also, just as you make accommodations for the needs of your students, you need to consider accommodations for the needs of the parents (parents with visual impairments, hearing difficulties, physical mobility).

5. Purpose Educating parents on how to help their children with math Educating parents about the school’s current math curriculum Using games to teach mathematical concepts Celebrating mathematics The information gleaned from the pre-assessment will give you valuable information for the next step: determining the best purpose of your Family Math Night. Besides the obvious one of getting parents involved in their child’s education, you might consider focusing on a specific aspect such as: teaching parents how to help their child with math. Many parents are desperate just know how to begin helping their children. You could offer a make and take session, or a lesson on how to use games to teach math; a session on how to use simple household materials as math manipulatives, or how to see math in everyday life. You might want to inform parents about a newly purchased math program, or simply address students’ and parents’ attitudes about math – that learning math is not an inherited trait. These are just a few examples of how you could create a focus for your Family Math Night. The information gleaned from the pre-assessment will give you valuable information for the next step: determining the best purpose of your Family Math Night. Besides the obvious one of getting parents involved in their child’s education, you might consider focusing on a specific aspect such as: teaching parents how to help their child with math. Many parents are desperate just know how to begin helping their children. You could offer a make and take session, or a lesson on how to use games to teach math; a session on how to use simple household materials as math manipulatives, or how to see math in everyday life. You might want to inform parents about a newly purchased math program, or simply address students’ and parents’ attitudes about math – that learning math is not an inherited trait. These are just a few examples of how you could create a focus for your Family Math Night.

6. Write a Plan Create a time-line and stick to it Participation – decide on the range of grade levels to be included Activities – begin generating a list of activities and gathering materials Choose a night that doesn’t conflict with other events OR plan your night with the reading night Plan the event around a theme or holiday Use inexpensive games with easily obtained materials Once you have gathered information about your parents’ needs and have a focused purpose, then you can begin planning. Creating a time-line could help you stay organized and on top of everything. Make a decision about the range of grade levels to be included – you will need input on this, so discuss at a faculty meeting and get input from others, OR have the principal create a Family Math committee, discuss at the PTA, etc. If you cannot obtain any enthusiasm or help for the project, then consider having a small Family Math Night for your students. It would be a beginning and you never know – it might motivate others to join you. When developing activities, consider including activities on all NCTM’s standards and including math literature. Give the date careful consideration – because it could make you or break you. Research your community activities and the surveys you took on Open House Night. Be certain to use materials that are easily accessible so that parents will more likely try the activities at home. Consider giving each participant a take home kit with materials included. Also, just as you differentiate for the various needs of your students, you can also plan for the various needs of your parents. Provide make and take sessions for parents of low income, provide how to sessions for parents who need to know how to help their students with addition, subtraction, and so on, provide literature sessions for parents who want to learn how to incorporate math in with their bedtime stories, provide sessions on the importance of math for parents who need to know how to motivate their children to learn math.Once you have gathered information about your parents’ needs and have a focused purpose, then you can begin planning. Creating a time-line could help you stay organized and on top of everything. Make a decision about the range of grade levels to be included – you will need input on this, so discuss at a faculty meeting and get input from others, OR have the principal create a Family Math committee, discuss at the PTA, etc. If you cannot obtain any enthusiasm or help for the project, then consider having a small Family Math Night for your students. It would be a beginning and you never know – it might motivate others to join you. When developing activities, consider including activities on all NCTM’s standards and including math literature. Give the date careful consideration – because it could make you or break you. Research your community activities and the surveys you took on Open House Night. Be certain to use materials that are easily accessible so that parents will more likely try the activities at home. Consider giving each participant a take home kit with materials included. Also, just as you differentiate for the various needs of your students, you can also plan for the various needs of your parents. Provide make and take sessions for parents of low income, provide how to sessions for parents who need to know how to help their students with addition, subtraction, and so on, provide literature sessions for parents who want to learn how to incorporate math in with their bedtime stories, provide sessions on the importance of math for parents who need to know how to motivate their children to learn math.

7. Generating Interest Visit classrooms and talk to the students about the family math night. Play a sample game with the students. Display prizes that can be won at the event Involve teachers, parents, community members, school board members, and PTA in the planning Give free homework passes to all students who attend Advertise, then, advertise some more Here are some ideas on generating interest for you Family Math Night. Here are some ideas on generating interest for you Family Math Night.

8. Getting Help It is suggested that you team with someone else when conducting a Family Math Night. Offer a training session on overseeing the games for the helpers Call local businesses to donate door prizes Bring in community workers such as the local librarian, extension agents, nurses, postal workers, store owners, others Contact the community college professors – field hours for students Look on KCM’s website for ideas on games, parent information, family math night resources When planning for a Family Math Night, please have at least one other person helping you with the planning. It was suggested that you talk with the teachers individually rather than leaving it up to the building principal or a sign up sheet placed in the office. Here are some suggestions for obtaining more help. Also, consider contacting the local high school and asking for help from one of the clubs or groups. Also, KCM has recently added some more information on family connections. When planning for a Family Math Night, please have at least one other person helping you with the planning. It was suggested that you talk with the teachers individually rather than leaving it up to the building principal or a sign up sheet placed in the office. Here are some suggestions for obtaining more help. Also, consider contacting the local high school and asking for help from one of the clubs or groups. Also, KCM has recently added some more information on family connections.

9. Implement the PlanSome Ideas Include a packet of games for parents to take home Have an alternate center ready in the event of problems Have a trial run for the games and programs to assess whether you have all materials ready and everything installed correctly Hang posters at various places directing participants on where to go Assign someone to take pictures Assign a “go-getter” Have an evaluator In the event that more attend than anticipated, have an alternate center ready; this could also help if one center is finishing more quickly than others. You might also consider having something planned for early arrivals. The go-getter is an important person, they could be a high school student, or your own child who knows where things are and who doesn’t mind fetching materials you run out of.In the event that more attend than anticipated, have an alternate center ready; this could also help if one center is finishing more quickly than others. You might also consider having something planned for early arrivals. The go-getter is an important person, they could be a high school student, or your own child who knows where things are and who doesn’t mind fetching materials you run out of.

10. More Ideas Include an activity with food Use a measurement center Invite a nurse for a health and wellness center. Invite the media Activities should be easy to learn but challenging to do. Have activities that cover a broad range of math topics addressing the NCTM strands Rewrite or rename activities to fit the theme Have a make and take session Have older students create and design games for the younger students. Have FUN! Food is always a great motivator; you might also consider serving refreshments. Food is always a great motivator; you might also consider serving refreshments.

11. Evaluate and Reflect What went well? Why? What did not go well? Why? Things you would do differently Send a follow up letter home to those who attended and also to those who did not attend. Don’t leave off evaluating the FMN and writing it down. Make notes on what games and activities went well, and why; some that did not go well and why. Make a list of things to do differently next time and finally send letters home thanking the parents who attended and asking them what they thought went well, what did not, and what to include next time. Also, send letters home to the parents who did not attend to determine the reason and for suggestions on what you could do to motivate them to attend. You might consider assigning an evaluator to observe activities and how everything is going, write a report, and give to you afterwards.Don’t leave off evaluating the FMN and writing it down. Make notes on what games and activities went well, and why; some that did not go well and why. Make a list of things to do differently next time and finally send letters home thanking the parents who attended and asking them what they thought went well, what did not, and what to include next time. Also, send letters home to the parents who did not attend to determine the reason and for suggestions on what you could do to motivate them to attend. You might consider assigning an evaluator to observe activities and how everything is going, write a report, and give to you afterwards.

12. Introductions Cindy Cisco - Runyon Elementary, Pike County Deborah Browning - Whitley East Elementary in Whitley County Donna Freeman – Boston Elementary in Whitley County Kim Smith - Stinnett Elementary in Leslie County Michelle Rice - Whitley North Elementary in Whitley County Rebecca Stephens - Pine Knot Elementary in McCreary County Shana Turner - Owsley Elementary in Owsley County Tamara Stephens – Salem Elementary in Russell County Priscilla Clay - Cumberland Elementary in Harlan County Angela Miller – Sand Gap Elementary in Jackson County Rhoda Bryant - A.B. Combs Elementary in Perry County. Before we begin rotating through the stations, I would like to introduce you to the wonderful educators who have worked so hard, and who you will enjoy visiting and receiving their ideas. Before we begin rotating through the stations, I would like to introduce you to the wonderful educators who have worked so hard, and who you will enjoy visiting and receiving their ideas.

13. Now! Your are in for a TREAT!!! We have eleven stations You have a number Begin at the station with your number Stay until you hear the buzzer Rotate clockwise Return to your seat and complete the evaluation ENJOY and have FUN!!! While you all are rotating around to the centers, I will be showing pictures of Family Math Nights on Powerpoint.While you all are rotating around to the centers, I will be showing pictures of Family Math Nights on Powerpoint.