Strengthening the Home and School Connection in Math

Are your students’ families unsure of how they can support their child with their math development? Do they recognize the importance of their involvement? Read below to learn about how you can engage your students’ families in their child’s math education!

WHAT IS FAMILY INVOLVEMENT AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

Family involvement is engaging families to be active participants in their child’s education. It is important because it impacts not only students’ attitude toward math, but also their success in math.

18 WAYS TO PROMOTE FAMILY INVOLVEMENT IN MATH

Call, email, or write a note to students’ families to update them on their progress.
Encourage open communication.
Send home newsletters to keep families informed on what their child is working on in math.
Send home articles about how families can support their child.
Send home resources for families to use to help their child practice math skills at home (e.g. flashcards).
Send home summer work to maintain math skills.
Host an informative math night at your school to provide information and resources to families.
Explain the similarities and difference between math when they were in school and math now.
Host math nights where students can come and play games and encourage parents to help you plan.
Host a workshop that teaches families how support their child at home.
Invite volunteers to help during math time by teaching students how to play a game during a center.
Invite families to observe a math lesson.
Invite family members to come in and discuss how they use math everyday in their career.
Invite families on math field trips.
Recommend apps and websites to use at home.
Assign homework that require students to initiate conversations with their family about math.
Require a family member to sign math homework.
Model a positive attitude toward math when talking to families.

LEARN MORE ABOUT TEACHING MATH MADE EASIER

10 PIECES OF ADVICE TO GIVE TO PARENTS

Make math fun and incorporate it into everyday experiences.
Use math talk.
Give your child the opportunity to problem solve and think critically before jumping in and helping.
Encourage them to persevere through a math problem.
Read picture books that are related to math.
Practice money when you go grocery shopping (e.g. If we have $5, can we buy 2 jars of jelly for $2.45 each?).
Practice money when you go toy shopping (e.g. The toy you want is $25, but it is on sale for 20% off. How much does the toy cost now?).
Practice money by having them count your change at home.
Practice time throughout the day (e.g. If it is 1:30 now, what time will it be in a half hour?).
Sing songs about math concepts.