Lesson Plan
Family Math Workshops
| Subject: | Math |
| Grade span: | K to 8 |
| Duration: | 30 minutes to 2 hours |
Description:
Family Math Workshops are formal opportunities for parents or caretakers to learn about the types of mathematics that their children are learning in the classroom, activities that can be used at home, and strategies to help them with their homework. Workshops might be led by an invited speaker, teacher, or other expert in the selected topic. Participants in workshops explore these topics in depth through practice and conversation under the guidance of a facilitator. Workshops may also provide opportunities for parents and community members to develop their own mathematical thinking and increase their knowledge of general math skills, while enhancing their understanding of how mathematics is taught in the classroom.What to Do:
The first step in planning Family Math Workshops is to determine the challenges that parents and caretakers face when they help their children with their mathematical learning. It is important that the parents see the workshop as beneficial to their own ability to help their children learn. Establishing a small group of parents who can assist in the workshop planning will allow you the opportunity to make sure the needs of the parents are being met.
After establishing the needs, key considerations in planning the event include:
- Establishing frequency (How often should workshops be held? Monthly? Quarterly?)
- Establishing a date and time (When will most parents be able to attend? An evening? Saturday?)
- Establishing a place (Where will the event be? In the school? Community Center?)
- Select a topic and or speaker to facilitate the agenda
- Childcare (Do we need to offer childcare during the event to encourage attendance? What activities will the children do?)
- Facilitators (Who is knowledgeable on the topics to be covered? Are they available to speak?)
- Materials (What supplemental materials might the participants need?)
- Agenda (How will the time be laid out? All-group lecture? Small breakout work groups? Grade-level discussions?)
Evaluate (Outcomes to look for):
- Parent responsiveness and attendance
- Increase in parent involvement
- Increased parent awareness about mathematics
- Increased parent awareness about math homework help
- New ideas from parents
- Increased communication between home and school
