TEACHING STANDARDS

INVOLVING FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES

Effective mathematics and science teachers actively work with families and communities as partners in the education of their students.

Effective mathematics and science teachers know that the expectations and actions of families have a great impact on the learning success of their students. They realize that families are the students' first teachers and acknowledge that most families have high expectations for their children's education. In fostering partnerships among schools, families, and communities, teachers:

• establish communication via newsletters, meetings, and other home and community activities essential to building the trust that will support the students in school,
• seek opportunities to pursue collaborative efforts between the school and home that are essential to the student,
• address mutually important issues of health and safety and provide information for assistance from local support groups in the community.

Effective mathematics and science teachers form partnerships with parents in supporting student success. In so doing, they:

• encourage quality time at home and school for follow-up and continual support,
• provide home/school projects that will engage student learning and activate critical thinking,
• gather information about students' strengths, weaknesses, interests, aspirations, and lifestyle.

Teachers who actively seek ways to work with families and communities:

• incorporate and interpret local cultural events into the mathematics and science programs,
• connect knowledge and experiences from home to school and vice versa,
• learn about the expertise and interests of family and community members who can contribute to mathematics and science learning in all settings in order to help students make connections between in-school and out-of-school learning.

Effective mathematics and science teachers are aware of their membership in the community and how their actions communicate what they value. Through their example they help foster in their students a similar sense of community responsibility.