Vibrant Math Culture of Explorations in Math Partner John Muir Elementary School in South Seattle
The math goals set this year for one of our partner schools, John Muir Elementary in Seattle, included helping students become independent learners, increasing the school’s math culture with math-focused literature in the library, a math game and activity resource center, and math games played in class, and promoting family and community connections.
Muir, which completed its fifth year as an Explorations in Math school, realized those goals through adopting practices such as explaining one’s thinking in solving a problem and holding family math nights. The family and community connections goal was in full display March 4 at a Family Math Night. More than 180 kids, parents, and siblings packed the school cafeteria to play card, dice and board games, all with a math focus.
“Math when I was in elementary school was a worksheet,” said Jennifer Maile, who with her husband Francis attended the event with their three children, two of whom are Muir students. “My kids find it interesting and not intimidating.”
“I don’t hear children here saying, ‘I hate math,’” added Francis Maile, who volunteers in his first-grade daughter’s classroom. “We’ve made math a fun thing you do in the gym–it’s not scary.”
Thanks to our funders, donors, and volunteers, Explorations in Math has made a significant impact this year. On behalf of the thousands of students, teachers, and families we served, thank you to all our supporters for fueling the math movement.
