Family Math is an organized program. You get to eat a meal. Your family learns about estimating and finds out that there are other ways to learn math besides rote memory. The leaders are fun to be around. It is an opportunity for parents to learn how to talk to their children about math.

This week I took James to a doctor's appointment. As we were walking up the stairs to the doctor's office on the third floor, James said, "Let's estimate how many steps there are". James started to count each step. There were nine steps in each staircase. When we were part way up, James asked me how many steps I thought there were. I told him I knew there were four staircases so four staircases times nine steps makes thirty-six steps all together. James became so excited as he thought about what I had said. "I get it...I get it...you multiplied!" he said. This was the first time that he actually understood what multiplying meant. It was so exciting for both of us.

I learned something myself at Family Math. It was the activity where you see how water rises when you drop something in it. I feel good about learning that. I told my son's teacher. Now I know I can help my kids if they have problems learning that same thing.

Math seems easier for my sons now and it is much easier to get them to do their homework. My older son, who has lots of difficulties with school, is now getting his math homework done on his own. Homework goes faster and I don't have to push him. My younger son had a math sheet to do on the weekend. He zoomed right through it even though it was new material. He picked it up much easier than I thought he would.

My children love doing the Family Math activities and the home challenges. I don't have to pull teeth to get them to do it. We have the math bag hanging up in the kitchen so that they can use it whenever they want. I bought some stones at the Dollar Store and added them to the bag. They often get the bag down and play games.