Psychology, Department of
Date of this Version
9-2013
Citation
Fleharty, H., & Pope-Edwards, C. (2013). Family-school partnerships: Promoting family participation in K-3 teacher professional development. Mathematics Teacher Educator, 2(1), p.55-74.
Abstract
Sixty-three teachers in a K-3 mathematics specialist certificate program conducted family projects in order to improve their skills in partnering with families around mathematics. Past studies have indicated that family involvement in children's education has many positive influences on academic achievement; however, parents' discomfort with math, and teachers' discomfort of working with parents, may be obstacles. The purpose of the present study was to examine two years of teachers' mathematical family projects and describe the types of projects chosen, the risks and benefits of these projects, and the quality of the parent-child interaction. It was found that the teachers implemented a variety of projects that promoted parent participation in mathematics. Teachers were also able to utilize a cycle of inquiry to examine the progress of their project. The results showed that teachers were able to create a strong connection between the math classroom and the home environment of the child, as shown, for example, by findings related to the themes of home-school connections and mathematics curriculum of the home.
Comments
Copyright © 2013 by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Inc., www.nctm.org. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or re-distributed without written permission from NCTM.