Join the club: Engaging parents in mathematics education

While extensive reference in the literature can be found in regard to professional learning sessions and workshops for teachers of mathematics, relatively little has been reported about engaging parents in learning about mathematics and mathematics education. The importance of home school partnerships is readily acknowledged, with parents being arguably the most influential factor in their children¡®s educational success, yet many parents feel uninformed about current educational practices and how best to support their child¡®s learning. This paper reports on an initiative undertaken with the parents from a District High School whereby they joined a ¨DMaths club¡¬ and attended information sessions designed to familiarise them with current mathematical practices and pedagogy. The results indicated that parents were appreciative of the opportunities provided to them and that they were supportive of contemporary mathematical practices.