Elementary math chat is a weekly math chat where participants come to discuss best practices, examine student work, explore routines for reasoning and research that guides and supports pedagogy centered on problem and student based learning.
Hi everyone! Introduce yourself. With Thanksgiving next week, tell us something you are thankful for. I am thankful to be in a warm hotel room looking out at the snow! #elemmathchat
Just FYI - I am from MD, but am in a hotel in CT. Just ran down to lobby because internet in room was getting spotty. Seems okay now. Fingers crossed. #elemmathchat
Hi Friends, I am Melynee in OK. I am extremely blessed and thankful for my faith,amazing family, and wonderful life. My hubby, kids and career are life long dreams come true! #ElemMathChat
Tonight we are going to focus on ways to inform and involve parents in K-5 math. Remember to answer with the A1, A2… format and to include #elemmathchat. The 1st question is coming in 1 minute.
Okay, let's get started!
Q1 Are there times when parents are invited to visit math classrooms? Do you have a district or school math leadership team with parent representatives? How are parents made to feel a part of your math program? #elemmathchat
A1: This year we had a family game night. It was super well received. Parents playing games with their kids (not video games) was a precious site to see!! #elemmathchat
A1 I wish our school had math nights! I invite family in any time. I use meet the teacher night, parent nights, Remind texts and my website to share mathy things with families! #ElemMathChat
A1. We have grade level family math nights. Parents get to experience the math we are learning and the kiddos get to lead the fun! I love getting a chance to talk to parents too. #elemmathchat
Okay, let's get started!
Q1 Are there times when parents are invited to visit math classrooms? Do you have a district or school math leadership team with parent representatives? How are parents made to feel a part of your math program? #elemmathchat
A1: I have helped to plan some building Family Math Nights that have been great fun! I also created a parent handout for each grade level with QR codes that take them to videos that show off common computation methods or mathematical tools used in that grade level #elemmathchat
Okay, let's get started!
Q1 Are there times when parents are invited to visit math classrooms? Do you have a district or school math leadership team with parent representatives? How are parents made to feel a part of your math program? #elemmathchat
A1: Randomly, I think some of our teachers have parents in to visit math classrooms, but there is no consistency district-wide. I LOVE the idea of a district math leadership team that includes parents! #elemmathchat
Q2 Parents may think our math goals are quite different than they actually are (e.g., speed and standard algorithms vs understanding and flexible strategies). How (and when) do you help them understand which math skills and concepts are important to you? #elemmathchat
A1: I've helped with family math nights at a couple of schools I've worked with, as well as math games sessions for Ps while they wait to talk to the T at P/T conferences. #ElemMathChat
A1 we have a committee to give parents opportunities to give input on decisions for the program & purchases. Also host family vane nights, attend PTO meetings, etc. Really struggle to get parents to attend though #elemmathchat
A1: In a school where I coach, we use Envision Math and they have a QR code where families can access support at home when assisting their child. #elemmathchat
Q2 Parents may think our math goals are quite different than they actually are (e.g., speed and standard algorithms vs understanding and flexible strategies). How (and when) do you help them understand which math skills and concepts are important to you? #elemmathchat
A1: In a school where I coach, we use Envision Math and they have a QR code where families can access support at home when assisting their child with homework. Families need to be supplied with the resources to support their child confidently. #elemmathchat
We do, not for the whole district but for our intervention program. Very few, if any parents attend the meetings so I hold them at PTO meetings now #elemmathchat
When my daughter was in 3rd grade last year her teacher was very open to my visiting during math -- but there was some school rule about visiting a class more than 45 minutes.(?) I like the sound of a leadership team... often with math it feels like going in blind. #ElemMathChat
A2 On meet the teacher night I use a lesson by OUR designed to help parents learn how math class is different. I also share this video https://t.co/jx2yR3e0ne#ElemMathChat
Q2 We often have a very different idea of what is in important in math compared to what parents value as important. How do they know what you value? #elemmathchat
We had a great turnout for our 6th Grade Walk a Day in my Shoes parent program. Parents were able to go to classes with their child. Linking learning to parent engagement equals SUCCESS! #mrjhmavs#katyisd
A:2 I am not familiar with the context of schools in the US but I think it is important at the beginning of each year/semester explain to parents the goals in mathematics for specific grade. #elemmathchat
Basically group of parents that work with admins and teachers to advocate for public education and our district. Parents voices are heard and district supports them w/ resources & training to be another voice with us as we communicate with elected officials #ElemMathChat
A2: We have parents that want to help “change things” because they work in elem math education. We just can’t keep up with the change. You have to convince teachers to change...and we can’t do it fast enough. #elemmathchat
As a parent I thought math nights were super-fun, and even learned something. Haven't had them again recently. If nothing else, they help kids and parents associate math with fun and not just a potential (or real) trouble spot. #ElemMathChat
A2: A running Google Doc where families have the link, it would include the lesson of the day, a resource guide that students would be exposed to during guided practice, strategy expectations, a video clip refresher that students can watch at home, and the HW. #elemmathchat
A3 I hear a lot about the lack of focus on standard algorithms. I have found it helps to reassure parents that their students will learn standard algorithms and also share how the place-value strategies help them develop understanding and strong number sense. #elemmathchat
A3: I hear about parents saying that their child is not being challenged enough - but it seems to stem from them wanting their kid to move faster instead of deeper. #elemmathchat
A3: let’s face it Math is different today than it once was. Arrays, different functions in the calculator, even long division! Families need a place where they can access video clips and “cheat sheets” to support their child at home. #elemmathchat
A3 I hear a lot about the lack of focus on standard algorithms. I have found it helps to reassure parents that their students will learn standard algorithms and also share how the place-value strategies help them develop understanding and strong number sense. #elemmathchat
Parents often wonder one (or several) of these three things:
-What is changing in math class/why?
-What does a typical day look like?
-How can I help my child at home?
#elemmathchat
Yes! I hear that too, They may want more homework or the next grade level's work rather than seeing the challenge we pose in problem-solving tasks.Again - different ideas of what is challenging. #elemmathchat
A3: I hear about parents saying that their child is not being challenged enough - but it seems to stem from them wanting their kid to move faster instead of deeper. #elemmathchat
A3: The biggest concern I hear from parents is that we are teaching them "inefficient methods." The way they learned it was just fine. I often refer to our changing world and how important it is for students to understand so they know what to ask Alexa... #elemmathchat
Parents often wonder one (or several) of these three things:
-What is changing in math class/why?
-What does a typical day look like?
-How can I help my child at home?
#elemmathchat
A1. Our district has a Parent Education Network. Each year, schools have PEN nights and parents come in with their children for dinner and to engage with their children and teacher in math games that can also be used at home. Resources go home too. #elemmathchat
A3) We want them TO be learning. What is the teacher's strategy when they're not? We often don't know how to help them... but if they're struggling in math, who does? #ElemMathChat
A3 I teach 6th-8th grade. My Ss parents want more for their kids than what they got. They are afraid that they can't help their child & openly confess they don't understand the math we do. They want their kids to have life long math skills. #ElemMathChat
Parents might have specific questions/thoughts about math class, but we also need to help parents experience what it means to think mathematically. They need to experience learning themselves to know what we're doing/why, and so they can better support their kids
#elemmathchat
A3 A misunderstanding of why we teach flexible strategies - it is about building number sense rather than solely valuing efficiency. Again - we need to have discussions about the whys! #elemmathchat
A3: The biggest concern I hear from parents is that we are teaching them "inefficient methods." The way they learned it was just fine. I often refer to our changing world and how important it is for students to understand so they know what to ask Alexa... #elemmathchat
I tend to ask parents how often they use standard algorithms while they are at the store. We discuss the practical usefulness for other strategies that might be done mentally #elemmathchat
Or wonder why we're asking them to do All This Work when they could just do that thing from the 80s that works really quickly (that they don't understand, but who cares?). #ElemMathChat#toocynical?
A3. Parents are not familiar with the multiple ways of solving problems in math. Our district uses Bridges Math and it involves Number Corner, Talks, coop. learning and discovering the mult. ways to solve problems. Many parents are familiar with one trad. method. #elemmathchat
A2) We know what you value from our child's experience, not from what you might say you value. You might not value worksheets theoretically but if the school doesn't value challenging the status quo, our child is left with work even the teacher may not believe in. #ElemMathChat
Q2 We often have a very different idea of what is in important in math compared to what parents value as important. How do they know what you value? #elemmathchat
Parents might have specific questions/thoughts about math class, but we also need to help parents experience what it means to think mathematically. They need to experience learning themselves to know what we're doing/why, and so they can better support their kids
#elemmathchat
What kind of tech questions/concerns to you come across? I am often asked for tech based resources for parents but don’t find that most Ss regularly use those things outside of school #elemmathchat
This is so true. As a math coach I’m speaking what I value to all of my teachers but that doesn’t mean they are valuing that in their classroom and I can’t get to them all. We have many teachers doing timed tests. Yuck. But I can’t get them allllll to stop.
For this reason, we started “Weekly Family Math Challenges” to give parents experience with the mathematics we are teaching. We post questions outside at dismissal for parents to discuss with their Ss...reasoning, make connections, etc. #ElemMathChat
Q4 Several of you mentioned Family Math Nights. Have you hosted math events with a theme (eg math facts night, geometry night)? Do you have a time to share goals? What went well? What might you do differently next time? #elemmathchat
@mfannie Today my 6th gr were engaged in new investigation. They asked me, "Is this going to be one of those tricks you play on us where we do a bunch of math in inefficient ways so we can learn a better way?" LOL! They are onto me! Productive Struggle is Da Bomb! #ElemMathChat
A4 We had a program specifically for grade 4 parents to help them learn to solve math problems so they could then help their kids. We taught strategies (patterns, making tables, drawing pictures, working backward). We kept hearing “Why didn’t anyone teach us this!” #elemmathchat
A3.Once parents are shown the “Why” behind what we do, it becomes easier for them to come aboard and cross that https://t.co/53OcbP1dqe pun intended with Bridges Math. What also helps? The WATCH D.O.G.S. Program. Dads come in to help and see what we do in class! #elemmathchat
A4: We partner with the university. The math methods university design a math game/activity based on a standard. Pre-service teachers get an opportunity to interact with students and parents. #elemmathchat
A4: We’ve done rotation based Math Nights that includes games, “real world” application, a breakdown of math strategies by grade, State Exam logistics information, and more. There’s never enough time and I think we could do a better job of repeating them. #elemmathchat
A4. We often have pizza at our family nights, we play games, let the children lead, provide games packets for families and offer time for Q & A for parents #elemmathchat
A4 In a school in which I worked we made math backpacks (as an extension of Family Math Nights) and allowed kids to take them home for the weekend. They had fun math (tangram puzzles, pattern block challenges, math fact games…). The kids and parents loved them! #elemmathchat
A4: We partner with the university. The math methods university design a math game/activity based on a standard. Pre-service teachers get an opportunity to interact with students and parents. #elemmathchat
Best ideas at a parent math night:
-doing a math string together
-playing games that are mathematical... but not all operations/calculations
-have parents watch their kids learning math. being excited... being challenged... actively trying to make sense of things
#elemmathchat
A4: having fun number sense games out that kids and parents can play together. Send home subitizing cards, dice, or other simple tools so that they can keep playing at home. #elemmathchat
A4: The math nights I was involved in highlighted games from the Investigations curriculum so Ps got play them and learn a little about the curricular expectations. #ElemMathChat
Basically by grade level. The night focuses on parents and their kids rotating to different classrooms within the grade level to play a game that is modeled by the teacher and that reinforces skills needed for various subjects and concepts in the grade level. #elemmathchat
A4. We often have pizza at our family nights, we play games, let the children lead, provide games packets for families and offer time for Q & A for parents #elemmathchat
Explain things more. There are educators in my family, and I work for an agency that provides professional development, so I've been exposed to a lot. Yet even then there's a lot I don't know. I imagine it's all the more challenging for parents with zero background. #ElemMathChat
A4: Here’s the thing with these “Math Nights,” they mean well and they come from a good place but does it close the gap in misunderstanding? Time, we need more time, we need not to rush, we need to chunk this for families like we do for T trainings and students! #elemmathchat
One night we do K-2 night and the other night is for grades 3-5.
I will tell you, we also include ELA games so its not all math but could easily be and has been in the past. #elemmathchat
A4: The interaction between parent/child was a great hit. Ss teach their Ps math games they played at school so they could play at home. At future events,hoping to show Ps @gfletchy's progressions so that Ps can have a better understanding of the changes.#elemmathchat
A4: Here’s the thing with these “Math Nights,” they mean well and they come from a good place but does it close the gap in misunderstanding? Time, we need more time, we need not to rush, we need to chunk this for families like we do for T trainings and students! #elemmathchat
Q5 Next topic – homework! What problems do you encounter with parents over homework? How do you address the problems? What types of homework have you found most successful? Least successful? #elemmathchat
A4: At P/T conferences, we set up a room in which we played Everyday Math games (different school) so Ps could learn games (with their own kids) they could play at home with their S. Even gave them deck of cards if they didn't have one. And instructions. #ElemMathChat
Definitely, let’s not stop let’s have them more often. I’ve been educating in urban settings for the last 10 years, we don’t have time to waste, our gaps are too large. #elemmathchat
A4: At P/T conferences, we set up a room in which we played Everyday Math games (different school) so Ps could learn games (with their own kids) they could play at home with their S. Even gave them deck of cards if they didn't have one. And instructions. #ElemMathChat
As a parent of a child with math interventions, i don't think of math nights as improving her math abilities, but at least helping to build a culture of math as fun and not a threat. But no, they're not a substitute for whatever a kid needs to learn. #ElemMathChat
A4: Here’s the thing with these “Math Nights,” they mean well and they come from a good place but does it close the gap in misunderstanding? Time, we need more time, we need not to rush, we need to chunk this for families like we do for T trainings and students! #elemmathchat
Good point. Our night is primarily just to teach some math games that can be fun at home and reinforce math skills needed in the grade level....Number sense.... you are right, educating parents on what we do is much more time consuming. #elemmathchat
A5 So much confusion when we teach a strategy (e.g. partial products or partial quotients for multi-digit multiplication and division) and then parents teach them the standard algorithm. What do you do to minimize this from happening? #elemmathchat
A5 I do not give homework. My parents love it and so do my students. I will send students home with topics of conversation and will send those via Remind too. Most don't engage. #ElemMathChat
What methods do you like to get that information? How will you (really) look at it or use it? Newsletters? Emails? Videos? We have many resources to share, but I know I ignore a lot of stuff from my email inbox. #ElemMathChat
A5: not being able to help\support their child if Ss become frustrated with the homework. As teachers we need to make sure anything sent home most Ss can be successful with even if they have zero support at home. Plus- quit sending home busy worksheets #elemmathchat
YES -- and now I'm realizing that's what was missing. The games were fun but how does this relate back to what they're learning? And how can I help? #ElemMathChat
I am totally with you, but so many schools still routinely assign homework and it often becomes a frustrating experience fro parent and child. #elemmathchat
A5 I do not give homework. My parents love it and so do my students. I will send students home with topics of conversation and will send those via Remind too. Most don't engage. #ElemMathChat
YES -- and now I'm realizing that's what was missing. The games were fun but how does this relate back to what they're learning? And how can I help? #ElemMathChat
Yes! I have Ss in gen ed classes, but I am the teacher of record. When I do grade checks and only see grades for homework and tests I am frustrated for my students and their parents! #ElemMathChat
A4 We had a program specifically for grade 4 parents to help them learn to solve math problems so they could then help their kids. We taught strategies (patterns, making tables, drawing pictures, working backward). We kept hearing “Why didn’t anyone teach us this!” #elemmathchat
A5. Homework that comes home that parents don’t understand or can’t help with. We need to be mindful of that. Or excessive homework. It’s not that parents are not willing to help. We don’t want frustrated families at home. #elemmathchat
A6 IF I gave homework I would provide parents with a list of questions they could ask their child to get Ss thinking and doing math, instead of parent just "showing" https://t.co/NkzGFCcpra#ElemMathChat
For this reason, we started “Weekly Family Math Challenges” to give parents experience with the mathematics we are teaching. We post questions outside at dismissal for parents to discuss with their Ss...reasoning, make connections, etc. #ElemMathChat
#ElemMathChat will take a break for Thanksgiving. Enjoy your families friends! David Costello @dr_costello will lead us on 11/29 at 8pm CST can't wait! #MTBoS#ITeachMath
A6: I hesitate to give parents advice before giving Ts advice on how to push “the classroom door open” digitally and literally. We have to do a better job at readily supplying families with ways to support their child at home by being transparent in our practice. #elemmathchat
A9 Balancing the Equation by Matt Larson and Tim Kanold has a great discussion/explanation of the changes in teaching mathematics that is helpful for parents and teachers. #elemmathchat
A1. Our district has a Parent Education Network. Each year, schools have PEN nights and parents come in with their children for dinner and to engage with their children and teacher in math games that can also be used at home. Resources go home too. #elemmathchat
A9 In the Math in Practice Guide for Administrators, (Heinemann) Chapter 5 is all about working with parents including frequently-asked parent questions (that can catch us off guard) and suggestions for how to answer them. #elemmathchat
Good question, particularly the word "really"! I "really" look at stuff in certain formats, such as regularly scheduled email updates (and over social media if they used it). Other parents are different. So unfortunately it requires multiple modes of communication! #ElemMathChat
I also like the idea I have seen of famiy math challenges posted in the school entryway. Good way for parents to experience what we hope is happeningin our classrooms! #elemmathchat
Thanks so much for joining us! Welcoming parents into our schools and classrooms benefits our students. We can do better with this and discussions like this are a great start! Have a happy Thanksgiving. #elemmathchat
