Family Math
Category: Mathematics
Grade level: Grades K to 9
1. What is the purpose of Family
Math?
The purpose of Family Math is to
increase the involvement of
underrepresented students, such as nonAsian minorities and women in the
domain of mathematics. The program
attempts to achieve its purpose by
increasing parental involvement in
children's mathematics learning.
2. With whom can it be used?
The program has been shown to be
effective with students of all abilities.
3. What is the format of Family Math?
Family Math was created by Jean Kerr
Stenmark, Virginia Thompson and Ruth
Cossey at the Lawrence Hall of Science
at the University of California. For
information about the program or copies
of the book contact:
Lawrence Hall of Science
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720
Attn: FAMILY MATH
(510) 642-1823 program
(510) 642-1910 books
(510) 643-5757 fax
The Family Math book includes:
 activities
 suggested hands-on materials to use
with each activity
 instructions for organizing a Family
Math class
 a guide to the mathematics activities
corresponding to content topics
covered in the regular curriculum
 a resource list for parents and
teachers
The program also includes 2-day
leaders’ workshops to prepare parents
and teachers to be instructors in the
program.
4. What teaching procedures should
be used with Family Math?
Specific teaching procedures vary by
activity. However there are several
instructional principles which are
emphasized in the program:
 Problem solving: Modeling the
many ways that solutions can be
found.
 Manipulatives: Use of concrete
materials to reinforce concepts.
 Support: A supportive environment
is provided so that parents and
children feel comfortable doing
mathematics.
 Reinforcement: There is
reinforcement of concepts taught in
the regular curriculum.
 Explanations: Explanations are
provided for why children are taught
particular concepts at certain ages,
how these concepts are related, and
why these concepts are relevant to
everyday life.
 Teaching style: A teaching style is
taught to parents, which emphasizes
children's early success with
mathematics, individualized
learning, extensions of activities
which can be taken home, strategies
to generate enthusiasm and a positive
attitude.
 The use of role models-Men and
women from the community working
in math occupations talk to Family
Math classes about how math is used
in their jobs.
5. In what types of settings is Family
Math useful?
Family Math has been shown to be
useful as an extra-curricular activity
outside of regular class hours. The
course is usually taught by a
parent/teacher team in a school, church
or community centre.
6. To what extent has research shown
Family Math to be useful?
Parents who attended Family Math
classes in the first year of the program
and submitted follow-up questionnaires
indicated that they became more
involved in their children's math-related
learning. After attending Family Math
classes, parents were more likely to play
math games with their children, help
with homework, talk about everyday
math in news articles, talk to their
children about math-related jobs and
careers, and talk to their child's teacher
about math. Following the course,
parents were also more likely to try to
improve their own math skills by
purchasing a math puzzle or book,
purchasing a math refresher book, or
taking another math class. One third of
parents who took a Family Math course
said that they learned more math in the
course.
References
1. Kreinberg, N. (1989). The practice of
equity. Peabody Journal of
Education, 66, 127-146.
2. Stenmark, J.K., Thompson, V. &
Cossey, R. (1986). Family Math.
Berkeley: University of California,
Lawrence Hall of Science.
3. Thompson, V. & Kreinberg, N.
(1986). Family Math: A Report of an
Intervention Program that Involves
Parents in their Children's
Mathematics Education. Paper
presented at the Annual Meeting of
the American Association for the
Advancement of Science,
Philadelphia.
Reviewed by: Naomi Slonim