Family Math Night is an opportunity
for you to get into the schools and meet with parents and students. It
is intended as a positive field experience where you can talk with parents
BEFORE the dreaded parent conference. It is also an opportunity to explore
mathematical situations and activities without the pressures of the curriculum
and standardized testing.
SCHEDULE
This semester we will be hosting a FMN at Baker Middle School on Wednesday,
18 February 2009. Please be at the school to set up at 5:00. We should
be finished about 7:00 and you will need some time for take-down.
CLOTHING
Please dress professionally, you are an ambassador from the university
on official class business. Professional wear does not include jeans,
flip flops, or hats. Dress neat and clean as if you are going on a job
interview -- the principal might want to talk to you! Heels and skirts,
although professional, are not the most comfortable choice for an activity
night. As required by the College of Education, body piercings and tattoos
are not appropriate and should be covered.
CHOOSING AN ACTIVITY
Please choose an activity that engages parents and children together in
a fun and informative way. Demonstrations are not appropriate, the family
needs to get into the activity with hands and minds, not watch you do
it. Remember these are middle school students (and perhaps siblings) and
choose the mathematical topic and skill appropriately. Think about what
you want the parent/child to learn -- and then design the activity to
accomplish that. Thinking about middle school math TEKS may be helpful.
ACTIVITY TABLE
You will have a cafeteria table to hold your activity. Please have a display
board with a title and explanation of your activity. You will
need several "stations" so more than one family can participate
at a time. Each station should offer the same activity. PLEASE use household
items for your activity -- this gives the message that math can be done
any where, any time, with what you have around the house. You don't need
commercial products or special tools to have fun learning math.
TAKE HOME BAGS
Take home bags with a copy of the instructions and materials is a wonderful
opportunity to extend the activity to those at home -- friends and family.
It is not required, but if you choose, a small zipped baggie is perfect
so families can replicate the activity at home.
PARENT INTERACTION
The primary goal is for you to interact with parents about the activity,
and then THE PARENTS do the activity with their children. Not all children
may be accompanied by a parent, but the focus of FMN is for parents and
children to experience mathematics together. |
