This Tuesday, Dec. 9, from 6:00-7:00, is the last of three Family Math nights at BEST. Family Math was developed by the EQUALS program of the Lawrence Hall of Science at the University of California, Berkeley. Its mission was to improve mathematics teaching and learning in classrooms and schools, providing activities and methods to help students succeed in mathematics, especially female and minority students. It is interesting to note that since the 1980's in Canada, females have achieved as well or better than males in all areas of Mathematics except one - spatial relations.
Family Math focuses on parents and children learning mathematics together. It gives parents and children opportunities to develop problem solving skills and to build an understanding of mathematics with hands on materials. Students (that is parents and children alike) will learn how to think about a problem using such strategies as looking for patterns, drawing a picture, working backward, working with a partner, solving a problem by its components, solving simpler related problems or eliminating possibilities. Having a wealth of strategies allows for choices of ways to start looking at problems. We will also learn several mental math strategies and short cuts.
Many different activities will be demonstrated over the three evening sessions at eleven elementary school in School District # 73. Activities are "free standing" for the most part. That is to say, activities can be adapted for many levels and it is not necessary to have attended previous sessions in order to learn from each evening's presentation. Although some parents will attend all three sessions, there is benefit from coming out to even one of the evenings. The Family Math program is a wonderful opportunity to involve parents with their child's development of understanding in mathematics.
Family Math focuses on parents and children learning mathematics together. It gives parents and children opportunities to develop problem solving skills and to build an understanding of mathematics with hands on materials. Students (that is parents and children alike) will learn how to think about a problem using such strategies as looking for patterns, drawing a picture, working backward, working with a partner, solving a problem by its components, solving simpler related problems or eliminating possibilities. Having a wealth of strategies allows for choices of ways to start looking at problems. We will also learn several mental math strategies and short cuts.
Many different activities will be demonstrated over the three evening sessions at eleven elementary school in School District # 73. Activities are "free standing" for the most part. That is to say, activities can be adapted for many levels and it is not necessary to have attended previous sessions in order to learn from each evening's presentation. Although some parents will attend all three sessions, there is benefit from coming out to even one of the evenings. The Family Math program is a wonderful opportunity to involve parents with their child's development of understanding in mathematics.
