Download or read book Tensions in Mathematics Home-school Partnerships written by Bridget Wadham and published by . This book was released on 2019 with total page 206 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Effective mathematics home-school partnerships that enhance student learning are an area of interest for educators and researchers worldwide. Developing such partnerships can be challenging and complex, however, especially in communities that are culturally and linguistically diverse. This study focuses on the mathematics home-school partnership within a low-socio-economic primary school in South Auckland, New Zealand. It investigates the experiences, beliefs, perceptions, and practices of parents and teachers concerning mathematics teaching and learning. The study had 35 participants; 18 teachers and 17 parents. Teachers participated in an online questionnaire that inquired about how they engage families in student’s mathematics learning, alongside their perceptions regarding how families support their children at home. Parents participated in one of five focus groups during which they discussed their personal experiences of assisting their children to learn mathematics. Focus groups were designed with community members to be culturally and linguistically inclusive, including providing translation support and culturally-appropriate ways of working. Findings from the questionnaire and focus groups revealed that a number of tensions were present in the existing mathematics home-school partnership. These occurred within the reporting, homework, student-led conference practices and were additionally caused by ineffective communication concerning mathematics strategies and vocabulary. The study also identified that parents in this community showed a high level of agency and aspired for their children to succeed in mathematics. The findings suggest that existing practices within the mathematics home-school partnership need to be reviewed and improved to meet the needs of the parents within the community. Furthermore, teachers need to provide clear explanations of the strategies they teach in class to parents, as well as being mindful of how they respond to different strategies that children bring into the classroom from home. Policymakers also need to consider the needs and desires of parents when reviewing and amending educational policies such as reporting.