Presented at CSSE conference at UBC, June 2019

1. Fostering School, University, and
Community Relationships through
a Family Math Night
Presented by: Candy Skyhar, Ph.D. & Mike Nantais, Ph.D.
Brandon University, Faculty of Education
Department of Curriculum & Pedagogy

2. Project Background
● A partnership with Brandon School Division (BSD)
● $3000 Outreach grant (plus support from BSD & BU PD Unit)
● Team: 3 professors, BSD specialist, four B.Ed. students,
school Principal, school numeracy support person, and a few
teachers.
Purpose: to promote numeracy by
involving families in a fun evening of
food, friendship, and mathematics
games.

3. Family Math Nights
● First introduced by Stenmark, Thompson and Cossey
(1986)
● “School-sponsored events in which parents, teachers,
and students interact around a mathematics curriculum”
(Lopez & Donovan, 2009, p. 220).
● Goal - to build positive connections with school and
mathematics (Jacobbe, Ross, and Hensberry, 2012).
● Learn about mathematics in a non-threatening,
supportive environment.

4. Examples from Literature
Jacobbe et al. (2012)
03
● Predominantly African American community
● All students from elem. school, pizza and drinks
● Preservice teachers ran stations in cafeteria for 90 min
● Carnival-like atmosphere with tickets and prizes
● Resource kits and handouts to take home
Lachance (2007)02
● Teachers/School organized logistics
● Author/College students organized math tables
● Part of a course assignment
● Gymnasium, families start at one table, 15 min. bell
Schussheim (2004)01
● Grade 2 and 3 students, 13 years running, 7:30-8:30 pm
● Math carnival in cafeteria and activity stations
● Teacher-led activities in 13 different classrooms
● Take home bag and certificate

5. Benefits cited in the literature:
● The provision of a supportive and fun
setting for children and families to learn
about mathematics
● Reinforcement of mathematics content
being taught at school
● The provision of authentic opportunities for preservice
teachers to work with parents that could be witnessed by
teacher educators, and that could challenge the existing
beliefs of preservice teachers about parental involvement
and commitment to education

6. The Research ~ Data sources
Surveys of families (parents) were given on 2 occasions - at
the end of the math evening & about 2 months after the
event. Surveys were available in English, Spanish, &
Mandarin.
Survey of teachers - given about 2 months after the event.
Reflections and observations of the research team after the
math evening.

7. The Family Math Night

8. Event Survey
Surveys were available in English,
Spanish and Mandarin.
There were 24 respondents.
75% reported being very satisfied (5)
with the event. No respondents rated
the event as less than “satisfied” (3).
A common theme amongst many
respondents was the desire to have
more events like this one.

9. Some Event Survey Family Comments
Things you found interesting
or useful:
To play among family
because due to my job I never
have time to spend with my
children
This event was fun. It helps me
understand how should I teach
my brother. I hope there will
be another one.
All of the games were useful. I
also like to know the different
fun ways I can teach math to
my daughter.
All of the strategies are useful
but the multiplication with the
dice will be most helpful to my
kids as they seem to have
some challenges with
multiplication.
I will play with my children in
order for them to learn more.
Everything was interesting. I
believe the children learned a
lot in the easy way and
without tension.

10. The Follow Up Survey
Survey distributed to parents & teachers about 2 months after the Family Math
Night, available once again in English, Spanish, & Mandarin.
5 teacher respondents, 10 parent respondents.
ALL respondents (teachers & parents) thought the evening was worthwhile, many
wished to see it offered again.

11. The Follow Up Survey - some parent responses
...[The family math night] was
a good experience. An
evening full of fun, we met
more people and we learned
new way to practice math.
Yes, we have used the
strategies so our daughter
learns more math. Her
success has been in the
time tables. Also [this] is an
opportunity to talk and play
with her. A lot of success!
Yes I would like to attend to
another event because helps our
children to learn for the future.
Yes we have been using
the strategies frequently to
be able to learn how to add
subtract, multiply and
division.
I would like to see this kind
of event offered more often.
It was a good experience for
me and my kid. I now know
some more new methods to
play and have fun with him
using math.

12. The Follow Up Survey - some teacher responses
...Great evening - loved having
Jane Felling to “run” the games
portion of the night - fun,positive
evening for families - connections
between home & school .. great!
Supper was a good way to
get families here - games
were great - highlight was
definitely seeing the
interactions between family
members during the games -
a positive, fun evening!
Some students have said they
are playing the games at home
- I have played some games
with students who were at
math night and they remember
those games.
Very worthwhile … I’d love to
do it again - I wouldn’t change
anything!
I think it was very
worthwhile, Even if they
don’t continue to play
these math games at
home, they might provide
quality family time.
It was awesome! Great
activities that families got to
play and take home forever!
Loved seeing families
laughing and learning.

14. The Math Blast Afternoon

15. Discussion/Implications
The project suggests that Family Math Nights:
● Provide opportunities for fostering school-community
partnerships
● Foster connections between students/parents and
school/university
● Provide parents, teachers, teacher candidates and faculty
with strategies for engaging students in mathematics
curricula in a fun, non-threatening environment
● Benefit preservice teachers by providing authentic
experiences working with students, teachers and faculty