UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
STEM EDUCATION
MATHNIGHT
The purpose of Family Math Night is to increase parental
involvement in mathematics and to target struggling students
by encouraging more family involvement at home through
fun, targeted math games. This was the third Family Math
Night at Beaumont and this year every game, booth and
handout was available in both English and Spanish.
“We had 24 pre-service teachers in attendance who got
hands-on experience in an informal, highly diverse setting,
working with students and their families,” said Dr. Margaret
Mohr-Schroeder, assistant professor in the UK College of
Education Department of STEM Education. “They were
very excited about the experience and feel they really
benefited from the ‘low stakes’ environment it created.”
Family Math Night began in spring 2008 to help satisfy
the College’s desire to provide more outreach with local
schools and to involve pre-service teachers in more informal
activities with schools. Coordinated by Mohr-Schroeder,
Craig Schroeder (then a graduate student in the College of
Education), and former faculty member Dr. Tim Jacobbe,
the first one was held at Booker T. Washington Academy
where 200 students and parents took part in a variety of
mathematics activities. Since then, the events have been held
at Jessie Clark Middle School and Beaumont Middle School,
with other sites targeted for future events.
Mohr-Schroeder says Family Math Nights are great
experiences for both the families involved and the College’s
pre-service teachers.
“Through Family Math Nights, the schools have been able
to bring families into the school and have them participate
in mathematics games that are fun and enjoyable for
everyone in the family,” Mohr-Schroeder said. “The parents
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are always very excited about the event, and it is a lot of
fun to watch them interact with their children. The events
also allow our pre-service teachers to gain informal field
experience hours in a different kind of setting. They love the
fast-paced nature of the night and are always surprised at the
number of families who attend and participate. It also gets
them to think differently about the mathematics they teach,
especially in terms of how they can turn ‘boring’ content
into something fun, challenging and relevant.”
For more information on the UK College of Education’s
mathematics and other STEM-related education programs,
visit the Department of Science, Technology, Engineering
and Mathematics Education website: http://education.uky.
edu/STEM/.
COE COMMUNICATOR | MARCH 2015