Courier-News
October 3, 1998

Math workshops teach parents to help kids

by LESLIE BOYD
Education Writer

Students in school today must meet tougher standards in math and science than their parents did, and they're going to need the help of their parents to succeed, say two Rutgers professors.

For that reason, the professors have developed a parent workshop called Families Achieving the New Standards in Math, Science and Technology.

The two professors- Warren Crown , professor of the mathematics education at Rutgers Graduate School of Education, and Joseph Rosenstein, director of the New Jersey Mathematics Coalition--helped the state develop its new standards.

Now, they hope to show parents how to help their children achieve.

"Parents are a critical part of this process," Rosenstein said. "They can no longer send the message that kids don't need math to succeed."

The workshop aims to teach parents how to help their children, even though they may not understand the math or science lessons themselves.

"Just sitting beside children while they do their homework, just showing an interest, goes a long way," Rosenstein said.

Crown and Rosenstein hope to reach 300,000 parents during the next three years with 10,000 free workshops in schools, community centers, churches and offices.

A 90 minute workshop includes a 35 minute video presentation and some hands-on work for parents. A 60 minute version will be presented at corporate offices across the state.

The program kicked off officially Friday with a demonstration workshop for a handful of At&T employees, at Winants Hall in New Brunswick, after the presentation of a $200,000 grant from the AT&T Foundation.

Rosentsein said the program was developed to help parents become more enthusiastic about math and science.

In the past, he said, educators were satisfied if 20 percent of the students graduating from high school were proficient in math. The majority were proficient only in "shopkeeper" math -- adding, subtracting and simple multiplication and division.

"Shopkeepers' math isn't enough now," he said.

Plainfield schools Superintendent Larry Leverett, who has promised workshops for parents in each of the district's schools, said parents were the key to moving all children toward a better education.

"These new standards are important for urban education, and parent involvement is essential," he said. "But FANS is appropriate for every one in every community -- urban, suburban and rural."

What You Can Do

FANS expects to offer 10,000 workshops for parents across the state during the next three years. Parents can learn more by calling 732-445-2894, or tap into the website at lomench@dimacs.rutgers.edu