Engaging parents in senior mathematics

Welcome to Module 5. Explore concrete strategies for engaging parents in senior mathematics and discover how math courses connect to diverse future pathways for students. Delve into the resources, adopt a new communication strategy, and feel inspired to continue your professional learning and collaboration.

Key takeaways

After completing this module, remember these three critical points:

1. Parent engagement has a powerful impact on students’ confidence and achievement in senior mathematics.

2. Math courses open multiple pathways (STEM/STEAM, trades, data, finance, health and social sciences), and families need clear, accessible information about these options.

3. Ongoing professional learning and collaboration (PLCs, professional organizations, sharing best practices) are essential for creating equitable, high-quality math experiences for all students.

Module artefacts

This module showcases the connection between parent engagement, program pathways, and continuous professional learning through two key pieces:

Pinterest Board   (81) Pinterest: A curated collection of best teaching practices in senior mathematics, with annotations for each pin. This resource facilitates clear communication with parents by offering accessible examples of rich tasks, technology integration, diverse representation methods, assessment strategies, and opportunities for student voice.

Artistic Expression: A thank-you piece dedicated to a colleague highlighting his strengths and reinforces the importance of learning alongside others to enhance teaching practices and create supportive experiences for students and their families.

Ongoing professional learning

This module has clarified future directions for ongoing professional learning:

  • Staying involved with professional organizations such as OAME and NCTM.
  • Participating in PLCs, using structures like the Four A’s protocol to engage in deeper discussions about student work, equity, and pathways.
  • Continuing to update the Pinterest board and website as "living documents" of learning, resources for parents, and tools for guiding students in their program and pathway choices.

Through this module, new ideas, skills and approaches have been gained, including:

  • Using digital tools (websites, Pinterest, social media) to make learning and expectations more transparent to families.
  • Being more intentional about explaining program and pathway options in parent-friendly language so that families can support informed decisions.
  • Seeing the celebration of colleagues’ strengths as part of professional learning.
  • Viewing collaborative professionalism and ongoing professional learning as essential to supporting student achievement, well-being, self-advocacy, and smooth transitions.

Engaging parents, planning effective pathways, and committing to lifelong professional learning are all interconnected parts of the role as a senior mathematics educator.