A number of resources are available to parents to help them better understand California’s updated math standards, as well as to help students with their nightly math homework. Below are a few of our favorites!
California PTA Parents’ Guides to Student Success
The California PTA’s website provides grade-by-grade guides to give parents an overview of what they should expect their students to learn in English Language Arts and math. They also include activities to help students learn at home and topics for parents to discuss with their students’ teachers about their academic progress. These guides have been translated into five additional languages. You can find all versions of the parents’ guides on the CAPTA Common Core Web page.
Common Core Math Explained in 3 Minutes
The article and video produced by Vox.com helps address many of parents’ and community members’ concerns with Common Core math approaches. Unfortunately, the term “new math” is a misnomer; the math strategies suggested under Common Core have been employed in high-performing schools across the country for decades. Watch the video and read the article on the Vox Common Core math, explained in 3 minutes Web page.
Great Kids Milestones Math Videos
The Great Kids Milestones videos is a free online collection of videos aimed at helping parents understand grade-level expectations in kindergarten through grade 5. Milestones videos show students demonstrating what success looks like in reading, writing, and math, grade by grade.
Homework Help Desk
Be a Learning Hero has partnered with other organizations to create the Homework Help Desk. With California’s updated standards, children are learning new concepts and strategies in the classroom. That means parents are learning them, too. The goal of the Homework Help Desk is to equip parents with the knowledge and support they need to help their children with homework assignments.
NCTM and Hunt Institute Math Video Series
The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and the Hunt Institute have produced a series of videos to enhance understanding of the mathematics that students need to succeed in college, life, and careers. The series also covers the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) Standards for Mathematical Practice and examines why developing conceptual understanding requires a different approach to teaching and learning. You will also find a useful video for parents wishing to support their child’s mathematics learning. You can view all the videos on the NCTM Teaching and Learning Mathematics with the Common Core Web page.