Mathematics Strategy: Grades Primary–6
Mathematics: Home-School Communication Resource
The Department of
Education is pleased
to present…
The Mathematics:
Home-School
Communication box!
Let’s look inside…
Overview
The resource makes it easy for grade
primary–6 teachers to inform parents
and guardians about their children's
mathematics education and involve
them in what their children are
learning.
CD—Electronic Files
All the paper files and folders packed
in the box are also available
electronically on the CD. That means
you can always print another copy of
anything that’s here.
Letters & Newsletters
• You can keep parents up-to-date on
what their children are learning in
class by sending out letters or regular
newsletters.
• The communication box contains
both sample newsletters and letter
templates, as well as tips on how to
create your own.
Sample Letter
Sample Newsletter
Curriculum Night
Curriculum nights offer a great
opportunity to involve parents in student
learning by explaining what’s going on in
class. We’ve put lots of goodies in the
communication box to make your
curriculum night the best it can be…
Curriculum Night
• Contents
—Introduction
—Letter
—Homework Information
—Summaries & Overheads – Grade Primary
—Summaries & Overheads – Grade One
—Summaries & Overheads – Grade Two
—Summaries & Overheads – Grade Three
—Summaries & Overheads – Grade Four
—Summaries & Overheads – Grade Five
—Summaries & Overheads – Grade Six
—Learning Outcomes Framework
Curriculum Night
Summary and Overhead Samples
Student-Led Conferences
• A student-led conference is an effective
alternative to parent-teacher interviews.
• Conferences allow students to take
responsibility for their learning by sharing
a portfolio of their work with the people
they care about most—their parents.
• The goal of these conferences is to
improve communication between home
and school as well as to promote the
development of the students’
organizational and leadership skills.
Student-Led Conference
Support Resources
Here’s what the communication
box contains to help you set up
student-led conferences…
—Introduction
—Sample Letters
 Invitation
 Thank You
—Session Templates
Family Math Night
Family math nights are informal
evenings during which students,
siblings, and parents are invited to the
school to do math-related activities. The
whole family becomes engaged in the
child’s learning.
Here’s what we’ve packed in the
communication box to help you make
your school’s event a success…
Family Math Night
• Contents
—Introduction
—Letter
—Grade Primary
—Grade 1
—Grade 2
—Grade 3
—Grade 4
—Grade 5
—Grade 6
Family Math Night
Sample Activity
Pamphlets
Pamphlets are another good way to get
your message about mathematics
learning into the hands of parents.
Pamphlets will be coming to your school
on a variety of topics, and there is a
place for spares to be stored in the
communication box.
Curriculum Strand
Pamphlets
• Let’s Talk about…
—Mathematics: Grades Primary–3
—Number Sense: Grades Primary–3
—Operations Sense: Grades Primary–3
—Patterns: Grades Primary–3
—Measurement: Grades Primary–3
—Geometry: Grades Primary–3
—Data Management and Probability:
Grades Primary–3
Mental Math Pamphlets
• Let’s Talk about…
—Mental Math: Grades 1–3
—Mental Math: Grades 4–6
Sample Pamphlet
Video & Books
Your communication box also contains three
books and a video for your reference in
communicating with your parent community.
Here’s what you get…
Video: Mathematics: What Are You Teaching My Child?
This video features live classroom scenes; insightful
commentary from curriculum expert Marilyn Burns;
and interviews with parents, not to mention
testimonials about the importance of mathematics in
the workplace.
Book: Getting Your Math Message Out to Parents
“In this book, Nancy Litton
explores the many ways
teachers can communicate
successfully with parents
about their children’s math
education.”
She covers the following topics in detail:
– Newsletters
– Back-to-School Night
– Parent Conferences
– Homework
– Classroom Volunteers
– Family Math Night
Book: A Family’s Guide: Fostering Your Child’s
Success in School Mathematics
“This guide is intended to help family members
understand changes in mathematics education and
to suggest ways that they can support their
children’s learning of mathematics.”
Book: Involving Families in Mathematics Education
“The purpose of this book is to present a
collection of articles that highlight helpful
strategies and ideas and to describe some of
the successful programs that further the goals
of family participation in children’s
mathematics learning.”
That’s All, Folks!
We do hope you find all the goodies in your
communication box helpful.
Your mission, should you choose to accept
it, is to use these resources to make your
school’s communication with its parent
community about mathematics education
even MORE effective.
This message will not self destruct in ten
seconds, but hey—you get the idea!