Because of the limited time we have for Meet The Teacher or Open House events, it’s difficult to get into depth about any subject. Typically that time is used to give a quick summary of what is going to happen throughout the year. For example, a third-grade teacher may give a list that looks like this: Math this year will include Multiplication, Division, Fractions, and Measurement.
With about 80-90% of people having math anxiety, parents/caregivers aren’t going to care about this list. At this point, they probably just hear Charlie Brown’s teacher “Wah, wah, wah”.
Those topics may SEEM familiar to parents/caregivers because they studied them in school. But parents/caregivers are aware that they are presented very differently now.
There’s a lot of confusion and dislike for Math. We have to help parents/caregivers get a better understanding of what children are seeing and why it’s different. So how do we do that in a short time block? Here are some tips.
1. Clear Up What The Common Core Really Is! (or whatever it is that your state is calling it now)
Many people are confused by what the common core really is. Common core simply put are the topics each grade level explores. Those topics are called standards. They are the learning goals for our students. Standards weren’t chosen arbitrarily; they are research and evidence-based.
2. Clear Up What The Common Core Isn’t!
Common Core is not the bad guy or villain in education. Most people get their information about education from social media. Damn you, social media! You’ve made this confusion and negativity worse.
Common Core does not mean curriculum.
This is a huge misconception. Every district uses its own set of curriculum guidelines or packaged programs that schools use to teach from. The program or workbook may be crappy. If a parent dislikes the workbook or pacing, that does not necessarily mean that the common core (math topics) is terrible. It means the materials are terrible. There’s a difference between a parent/caregiver saying, “I hate this assignment” and “I hate addition.” The Common Core does not tell teachers how to teach things in their classrooms. The curriculum or programs used do. Parents/caregivers need to see the difference here.
Common Core does not mean state tests.
Ugh, this is probably one of the biggest misconceptions. In my opinion state tests are ridiculous; however, that’s for a different blog post. Yes, state tests have questions that follow the topics we are supposed to teach. For example, a third-grade student may see a question about line plots. If we were to dissect what our issues are with testing, it is not that we hate line plots, it is that we dislike testing. Again if a student does not do well on a test, it can’t be blamed on “common core”, those are just the standards. Parents/caregivers need to know that state testing is not the only tool used to see student progress. Read more on that here Assessment
3. Explain What Parents/Caregivers Can Expect From Your Class?
Parents/caregivers need to see that math can be FUN and that it is no longer about speed which might have been their focus. Instead, math is about connections. Students no longer focus on the HOW but instead on WHY and HOW. Most adults grew up in the generation where you learned how to solve a problem but didn’t understand why those steps made sense or when to even apply it outside of math class. The power of math is knowing why as well as how a procedure works. GFletchy Math Progression Videos
Parents/caregivers need to know that math literacy is important. A teacher’s goal is to create a numeracy rich environment. A parent’s goal should be to extend it at home. Parents/caregivers need information on what a numeracy rich environment means. It’s one where students are expected to explore, question, work together, and share ideas. The math age of “because I said so” has passed. Math can have games. We want students to be problem solvers not just rule followers.
4. Early Concepts Matter!
The early concepts matter. Big time! We often take this for granted. There’s a misconception that if students are following algorithms, they are doing well. There’s so much more to math than this. Strategies are essential. Now, are we botching up how these strategies are implemented in our classrooms? Yes! Many rooms will teach strategies in a procedural format. Parents/caregivers should be given information on staying away from word problem tricks like Keywords and CUBES. Parents/caregivers should be familiar with the learning trajectory of concrete, pictorial, and abstract. Most parents/caregivers freak out when they see pictures on work. We didn’t use pictures like these in the past. A picture is used now as a way to represent someone’s ideas and thinking. It’s a skill mathematicians use. Help parents/caregivers understand why printing drill sheets is not great for kids. Explain that math is not a race. Speed is not a factor. Math should have strategies and kids need to make decisions on how to best solve something. Book Adding Parents To The Equation
5. Teamwork Makes The Dream Work.
Some parents/caregivers will put their foot down, thinking that kids learn math better the way they did it. This can cause some tension between the parent/caregiver and the teacher. But some parents/caregivers feel that if they learned math the way it is taught now they would have understood it better. Regardless of what opinions are presented by the parents/caregivers continue to advocate for teamwork and growth mindset. Here are some Growth Mindset Books
A lot of times, Common Core receives a negative connotation. It’s from a lack of understanding. Help parents/caregivers see that Common Core is not the monster, it’s just a set of topics. Parents/caregivers need support. We want them and their children not to be turned off by math but instead to embrace it and dare I say even love it. So let’s turn their math anxiety to math zen.