When young children practice math early, they’re more likely to succeed in school — both in math and overall. One of the best ways to support early math learning is by involving families. This includes having math conversations at home, using games and books, and building strong connections between schools and families. We call this approach Family Math.

Family Math could be especially powerful in California, the state with the most K–12 students. To better understand how Family Math is being used across the state to advance learning among children grades TK-2nd grade, as well as how it might be better utilized in the future, the Center for Family Math conducted the California Family Math Mapping Project in partnership with the California Masonic Foundation.

What we studied We interviewed education leaders in four large public school districts, one county office of education, and five California-based family engagement nonprofits. We asked about Family Math interests, challenges, and opportunities.

What we found We uncovered some encouraging themes to help inform the growth of Family Math in California. Yet, we also learned that challenges to embracing Family Math are real.

1. Educators like the idea of Family Math, and family literacy provides a blueprint: Most education leaders we talked to support Family Math and believe it can help students — especially those who are struggling. They also acknowledged a strong focus on family literacy in the early grades and said Family Math could learn from these efforts. Informants explained that educators currently have more familiarity, tools, and training to engage families in literacy.

2. The timing is right: There are several statewide efforts that create opportunities to infuse Family Math with specific populations, including:

• After-school and summer learning through the Expanded Learning Opportunity Program (ELOP).
• The expansion of Transitional Kindergarten.
• Support for struggling districts through Differentiated Assistance.
• The growth of Community Schools.
• The Community Engagement Initiative (CEI).
• California’s new Math Framework.
• Recent math curriculum selections.
• Education nonprofits that are already starting to incorporate Family Math, like Raising a Reader, PIQE, Abriendo Puertas, and others.

3. Messaging matters: Helping families believe they can support math learning is important. It helps to connect Family Math to things families are already doing, like daily routines, as well as to things families already care about, like their children’s future success.

4. Districts face big challenges: Many districts are dealing with budget cuts and staff shortages. Leaders said it’s hard to take on anything new when they’re struggling to keep basic services going.

5. Family Math efforts are scattered: In many cases, there’s no clear point person for Family Math. Some district leaders pointed to math department leads, while others pointed to family engagement coordinators. Still, Family Math might be a way to help different departments work better together. In addition, Family Math activities often occur at the local school level.

Based on these findings, we narrowed down the following recommendations:

Each of these recommendations is folded into the recently launched California Family Math Initiative, a collaborative pilot program in Los Angeles meant to foster math talk and math interactions at home in ways that complement classroom math learning in the early grades. Book sharing, playful math activities, and everyday routines at home combine with a culture of Family Math at school to promote math learning as a joyous and powerful means to family-school partnership, educational equity, and positive learning and life outcomes.

To learn more about Family Math visit www.familymath.org.

This article was adapted from an earlier blog entry by the Center for Family Math.