Who Can Help Children Learn Mathematics?
Everyone can create the necessary opportunities that help children learn and become confident with mathematics: parents/families/caregivers, teachers, policy makers, principals, and administrators—by working together and independently to achieve the common goal of improving student learning.
All students need to become mathematically proficient to be successful in school and future careers. Family members have an important role in helping children develop knowledge, skill, and confidence with mathematics. There are many ways to help.
A key factor is for children to know that the adults in their life think they can be successful learning mathematics. However, according to the report Everybody Counts (1989), "Only in the United States do people believe that learning mathematics depends on special ability. In other countries, students, parents, and teachers all expect that most students can master mathematics if only they work hard enough. In other nations where more is expected, more mathematics is learned." (pp. 10, 82).
To learn more, visit: www.nap.edu/books/0309039770/html/
Strong home-school partnerships promote student learning in mathematics.
In Helping Children Learn Mathematics (2002), Kilpatrick and Swafford report that "When parents and teachers alike believe that hard work pays off, and when mathematics is taught and learned by using all the strands of proficiency, mathematics performance improves for all students." (p. 21).
To learn more, visit: www.nap.edu/catalog/10434.html/
Investigations in Number, Data, and Space mathematics curriculum supports educators, families, and caregivers help all children learn mathematics.
