The Esso Family Math Project

The Esso Family Math Project is a community-based program for families who would like their children to experience success in math. For the past five years, Esso team members at the University of Western Ontario have been building on the earlier Family Math successes realized at Berkeley in the 1980's and 1990's. We want to thank the researchers and teachers at Berkeley for willingly sharing their resources, and now we would like to continue this tradition. This website includes all of the resources we have developed as well as the information we have learned from families and volunteers. We hope others, like you, will build on our initiatives, feeling free to adopt and/or adapt our program to meet your specific needs.

The Esso Family Math Project was initiated to support all parents, but especially those who may find it difficult to obtain help in facilitating their children's mathematical growth and development. Some parents have little math education, and it may be impossible for them to obtain resources for home reinforcement of math concepts. Their children fall behind quickly. Low-income families, minority families and single parent families often have difficulty overcoming these challenges.

Esso Family Math uses everyday materials and math games to help children understand math ideas. Concepts used in the real world such as measurement, estimation and mental math are sometimes difficult for children to grasp during structured classes. Esso Family Math provides a means for parents to reinforce everyday schooling while encouraging their children to have fun as they learn. Parents gain confidence and feel they are better able to help their children enjoy and understand math in a positive environment.

Explore this website to see samples of materials and activities that are included in the program. If you would like to be a leader in Family Math, download the Early Years - age 4-6 book or the Grades 2 to 5 - age 7-10 book from this website. These books provide outlines and detailed activities so that you may host the project in your community. We would suggest inviting two Esso Family Math Coordinators to your community prior to starting the program so that they can provide a full day of training for you and the necessary community volunteers. It is important that everyone is familiar with the philosophy of Family Math, the math that is contained in the carefully designed activities, and the strategies for assisting parents to learn how to facilitate their children's understanding of mathematics.

	Our Partners in Making ESSO Family Math A Community Success