Mathematics Professional Series Involving Parents and Communigy — Geometry   Parental Involvement Parents teach their children all the time. They teach language to their infants, and they teach their young children not to talk to strangers. They read to their sons and daughters and, in the process, help them learn how to read and write. They even teach their children how to count and use basic arithmetic facts. But as their sons and daughters reach middle school and high school, many parents are not sure how to proceed with mathematics. Many are intimidated by their own perceived weakness in the subject. Yet most parents want to help their sons and daughters succeed in mathematics so that they may acquire the skills necessary to get a good job. The goal of parental involvement in mathematics is not to teach specific concepts, but to help students develop curiosity and an enthusiasm for solving problems. In the process, parents can extend the learning that takes place in school. You can provide support in three ways: by communicating with parents about what is happening in your classroom, by providing take-home activities for students and parents to complete, and by inviting parents and other members of the community to school to share information with the students. The parents of your students can become your biggest allies in the classroom. How Parents Can Help at Home When parents meet with teachers, they often ask what they can do to motivate their children in mathematics. Here are some things parents can do to build a strong understanding of and confidence in mathematics in their children. Share life experiences and problem-solving strategies with their children. Demonstrate the value of mathematics by having children solve problems that are real and relevant to their lives, such as large item family purchases and the family budget, equitable home task assignments, cost of a college education and financial benefits, and measurement of all kinds. Provide time, space, and the necessary tools for mathematics homework, including a calculator. Encourage their children to join mathematics clubs in school and in the community. Do home mathematics projects that could be developed into projects for science/mathematics fairs. Purchase puzzles, games, books, and models to be used by the entire family. Ask questions that have more than one answer. Show children that there are many ways to solve problems. Have children draw pictures and diagrams to represent problem situations. Monitor children's work and stress the importance of checking homework. Value education and reward accomplishment. Take-Home Activities One of the ways that you can involve parents in the mathematics classroom is to provide challenging, useful mathematics activities that children and parents can do together. Here is a sample activity appropriate for geometry students and their parents. Geometry Activity: Creative Designs Tessellations are a way for us to see patterns in mathematics. The word tessellation comes from the root verb "tessellate" which means to form a mosaic pattern as by using small squares of stone or glass. For centuries, Muslim artisans from the Middle East have used the geometric patterns of tessellations to decorate facades of Arabic buildings. More recently, Maurits Escher (1898-1972) used tessellations to create fascinating patterns and designs. You can create your own personal tessellation by altering a square. Start with a square. Then change the top to look like a fin, fan, kite, or any shape you want. Slide your change to the opposite side of the square. The pattern for your Escher-like drawing is formed. Use colored pens or pencils to create your design. Design your own tessellation. More Information For more information on how you can include parents and community members in your classroom, see "Involving Parents and the Community in the Mathematics Classroom," part of the Glencoe Mathematics Professional Series.