In Spring 2020, teachers quickly needed innvovative ways to engage students and families virtually. We knew we had a great family engagement program in mathematics and thought, we think we can make this an awesome virtual experience that teachers and families can use together! Funding from our corporate partners helped create interactive online materials for PreK-Grade 4 that anyone can use.
Math Camp-In connects what is happening in the classroom to supporting families with ways to continue to engage students in mathematics at home. Teachers use the Math Camp-In lessons/activities with students and can continue to expand on the ideas using virtual components at home. Each grade band (PreK-K, Grades 1-2 and Grades 3-4) typically has seven Trail Posts that are completed by students in-person or virutally. As campers complete each Trail Post, they earn a camp badge. Additionally, as a family engagement component, we have created Math Camp-In Backpacks which include grade-level focused games that make mathematics even more fun! S'MORES is the first game aimed at building early number concepts and other games are in the works. This format definitely helped connect home and school with fun and innovative activites that can be done together.
The response over the past year has been overwhelming! Downloads of the Math Camp-In resources have been recorded from 22 states. As a nonprofit organization, our focus is on developing professional development and resources for teachers. In just the past year, we have had over 500 teachers who have attended professional development sessions to learn more about mathematics content and using the materials in the classroom and with families. In February we also created Math Camp-In Games and launched S'MORES, the first board game used as part of the family engagement component. Almost 2,000 S'MORES games are already in the hands of families and w are now working to expand the resources that are part of our family engagement plan-and already working on a second game!
We are keeping our website updated as we add new ideas, lessons and videos to help connect families with strategies that can be used at home. These resources are free and can be used by teachers, after-school providers and families. http://www.teachinglearningcollaborative.org/math-camp-in.html
