Since the Spring of 2000, I have organized at least one family math night each semester. I first developed Family Math Nights in conjunction with two teachers - Erin Peppel at McGraw Elementary and Joan Griffith at Cincinnatus Elementary School. Initially, we organized three family math nights - two at McGraw Elementary School (Spring 2000 and Spring 2001) and one at Cincinnatus Elementary School (Spring 2001). Since then, I have been offering Family Math Nights at Cincinnatus School at least once a year and another at Smith School in Cortland at least once per year. On some occasions, we have brought elementary school students to campus or brought our preservice teachers to the school building for a "Math Day." We last did this in the Fall of 2008.

A Family Math Night is a means of bringing elementary school students and their parents/caregivers into school to engage in a series of fun, hands-on math activities together. The teachers at each school take care of the school-side logistics - finding a room to hold the event, taking care of publicity, arranging for refreshments, gathering necessary supplies etc. Here at SUNY Cortland, I provide my students with guidance to create appropriate math activities in which the families can engage. Click here to see the outline of the Family Math Night assignment for Spring 2011.

During Family Math Night, the EDU 373 students work at individual tables with the families on the math activities. The pictures below illustrate how the EDU 373 students work with children and their parents during this event. In their reflections on this event,the EDU 373 students always write about what a positive experience Family Math Night was for them and how they believe this experience will prepare them for dealing with the families of their future students.