Using Teacher Inquiry for Knowing and Supporting Parents with Mathematics

by Regina M. Mistretta

Overview

Parents are those social factors that can positively influence their child’s learning of mathematics. Using Teacher Inquiry for Knowing and Supporting Parents with Mathematics serves as a teacher’s inquiry guide for supporting parents in this critical role. Steps for investigating the manner in which parents and children work together on mathematics tasks, such as homework and projects, are shared. Findings gleaned from such investigation cultivate a state of knowing that positions teachers to support parents, and in turn their students, in meaningful and relevant ways. This book includes teacher inquiry approaches, related tools, and supportive resources for parents in grades Pre-K though 12. Teachers’ inquiry findings on their journey towards being "in the know" about parents and mathematics, along with their responsive action steps, are shared to help guide the reader’s use of inquiry for knowing and supporting parents with mathematics. Some key additional features of this book include:

• Support for both individual and collective teacher inquiry
• Resources for supporting parents through the grades
• Online teacher inquiry resources
• Anchor tasks for developing parents’ knowledge of mathematics content, and ways of supporting children’s understandings of that content

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781475812572
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	03/20/2015
Pages:	94
Product dimensions:	6.47(w) x 9.23(h) x 0.52(d)

About the Author

Regina M. Mistretta, a mathematics educator for close to three decades, has taught students at elementary, middle, and high school levels. As a professor at St. John’s University, she prepares teachers for elementary and secondary school classrooms, provides professional development, and supports parents as academic partners to children and schools.

Table of Contents

Contents
Foreward
Preface
Dedication
Introduction
1. Parents: Social Factors For Learning Mathematics
Teacher Inquiry For Knowing And Supporting Parents With Mathematics
Teacher Inquiry Approaches
Planning Your Inquiry Journey
Supporting Parents Through The Grades
References
2.Surfacing Perspectives Through Surveying
Surveys For Surfacing Perspectives
Survey 1
Survey 1 Findings
Survey 1 Responsive Action Steps
Survey 2
Survey 2 Findings
Survey 2 Responsive Action Steps
Survey 3
Survey 3 Findings
Survey 3 Responsive Action Steps
Planning Your Survey Inquiry
Supporting Parents Through The Grades
References
3.Witnessing Parent-Child Interactions Through Observation
Determining What To Observe
Gathering Families
Engaging Families
Taking Field Notes
Findings And Responsive Action Steps
Planning Your Observation Inquiry
Supporting Parents Through The Grades
References
4.Digging Deeper Through Interviewing
Conducting Interviews
Findings And Responsive Action Steps
Planning Your Interview Inquiry
Supporting Parents Through The Grades
References
5.Anchor Tasks For Families Anchor Task 1: Concept Cards
Anchor Task 2: Attribute Pieces Anchor Task 3: Pattern Blocks
Anchor Task 4: Perimeter And Area
Anchor Task 5: Finding Pi Anchor Task 6: Monster Combos Anchor Task 7: Let’s Talk Pizza!
6.Learning As A Teacher Inquiry Group About Parents And Mathematics Collective Learning Framework 1
Collective Learning Framework 2
References

Editorial Reviews

Parent support is crucial for student success in mathematics. Teachers will benefit from inquiry-based strategies outlined in this book and discover exceptional techniques for improving parental involvement.

Maureen Soos

Mistretta’s stance that parents are resources for children’s mathematical learning is refreshing, as is her emphasis on inquiry as a tool for supporting children and parents in mathematics. Readers may find useful resources referenced throughout the text, including links to Microsoft Word and PowerPoint files. Those ready to embark on a serious, focused inquiry journey aimed at learning about and working more effectively with parents will find this book to be a helpful resource.

Teaching Children Mathematics

Anyone involved in teaching mathematics strives to breach the gap between student learning and parent understanding. Regina has a talent for presenting strategies in a clear, concise manner that is both engaging and effortless to implement. Using Teacher Inquiry For Knowing And Supporting Parents With Mathematics provides a wealth of information, using frameworks such as anchor tasks to educate in a refreshingly new style. This is an invaluable resource for any teacher who is serious about fostering communication between families and the subject they love to teach.”

Cathi Legakis

Now more than ever, the teaching of mathematics is in the spot light in the educational arena. This book provides valuable insights for teachers and parents alike to promote the importance of mathematics education. More importantly, I am hopeful, that the end result will be students enjoying mathematics, learning the content more deeply and becoming effective problem solvers in the world we live.

Anthony Biscione

Every teacher who interacts with the parents of children who have been confused by Common Core Mathematics will find Regina Mistretta’s Using Teacher Inquiry for Knowing and Supporting Parents with Mathematics an invaluable resource. Teachers have always been charged with assisting their students, but in our challenging 21st Century Learning Communities, those students’ parents are just as important to “reach” in the teaching and learning process. When teachers embark on this “team” approach they will find more success in their classrooms. This great resource can be used in a school-based study group or just as a support for the individual teacher of mathematics.

Jo N. Rossicone