Math That's Fun for the Whole Family

	Above and below, parents and students share in the fun of Family Math Night at Hillside. At bottom, guest facilitator, Dr. Pat Kenshaft.

Second- and third-grade students and their families turned out on October 11 for Family Math Night, a district-wide event held several times throughout the year.

The event, which was held this month at Hillside, brings together students of all ability levels, from all schools in the district, with
their families, several teachers and administrators, and a guest facilitator. Family Math was created to assist students in learning new math skills, as well as to practice math skills they have already learned -- but most of all, says district math supervisor Joan Moriarty, "To show kids how much fun math can be."

On the night of October 11, despite a fierce rainstorm outside, more than 70 kids and parents filled the designated classroom at Hillside to take part in Family Math Night. Laughter and conversation bubbled around the room as guest facilitators Dr. Pat Kenshaft and her husband, Dr. Fred Chichester, presented math games and challenges, and each family attempted to solve them as a group. At times families teamed up to tackle challenges. After giving the students and parents time to complete each task, Dr. Kenshaft gave the answers and explained how the calculation was made.

Family Math Night activities included "Can You Guess the Number I'm Thinking?", guessing the number of raspberries or tomatoes in a jar, problem solving with fractions, Venn diagrams, and various math games.

Montclair residents Dr. Kenshaft and her husband, Dr. Chichester, have taught math to several generations of students. Dr. Kenshaft holds a Ph.D. in math and is retired professor of Montclair State University.

So far, Family Math Night is a 5-year tradition in the Montclair Public Schools. The district's Parent/Volunteer Coordinator, Sylvia Bryant, coordinated last week's event in conjunction with the Hillside PTA. Joan Moriarty, district Math Supervisor and a member of the Department of Instruction, was on hand to observe. Hillside Principal Mike Chiles and Hillside Assistant Principal Joe Putrino were also present.

"The concept behind Family Math is for parents and caregivers to come and learn about the math skills that are being taught to students in school, and then reinforce those skills through study at home," said Sylvia Bryant. Having coordinated the event for the past five years, Byrant says, "The outreach that we do, the collaboration with building principals and with administrators, brings this together every year. It keeps getting bigger every year."

Hillside will host the school year's second Family Math Night for second- and third-graders on Tuesday, December 5.

On Thursday, November 2, A "Connected Math Evening" for middle school students and their families will take place at the George Inness Annex atrium, 141 Park Street, between 7:30 and 9 p.m. The program will be presented by Montclair State University math specialist Nancy Schultz.

Improving the performance of minority and all other students in math is one of the district's top three teaching and learning goals for the 2006-7 school year.

For more information about Family Math Night, contact Sylvia Bryant at (973) 509-4028.