Our Mission
The goal of Esso Family Math is to provide community volunteers with the training and the resources necessary to assist parents with their children's development of mathematics. Family Math uses the context of the real world when presenting rich mathematical activities; games and manipulative materials are employed to encourage stress free learning and to move mathematics from the abstract world of symbolism to the concrete world of reality. Family Math attempts to foster positive attitudes towards a subject that is often perceived as threatening and incomprehensible, especially by families who are considered at risk.
Esso Family Math Values and Principles
- Parents want to help their children learn. Esso Family Math recognizes parents as adult learners who can acquire the necessary skills to facilitate their children's mathematical development.
- Co-operative learning creates a positive learning environment for parents. Parents, Esso Family Math Leaders and Teaching Volunteers work as equals toward a common goal. By modeling instead of telling, Esso Family Math Leaders and Teaching Volunteers empower parents, thus promoting confidence and positive attitudes.
- Acceptance and respect for differences is critical as families come together to learn and to have fun.
- Enjoyment is an integral part of learning. A participant who feels comfortable and secure within the learning environment will take away a maximum amount of information. By being positive and encouraging, Esso Family Math Leaders and Teaching Volunteers create a learning environment that builds on the existing skills of parents and their children. A judgment-free environment enables everyone to feel relaxed and helps participants develop at their own pace.
- Learning mathematics is a problem solving process. Problem solving results in people being able to focus on, and enjoy working through, a problem rather than just getting to the end. Knowing the process is just as important as knowing the answer. It is the process that assists understanding.
- Family Math is a beginning, a step toward lifelong math learning and enjoyment in the community and within families. Making math connections to real life will facilitate the development of confidence, awareness and positive attitudes.
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