Anthony Lyen, Asst. Tempo Editor
Pictured above: Junior elementary and special education major Kenneth Cronin teaches and entertains Family Math Night participants.
We all remember that feeling of coming home with math homework in grade school, simply staring at the numbers and hoping the problems would solve themselves. I mean, let’s face it: Math isn’t always a breeze, especially at a young age.
This is why the Teachers of Tomorrow Club held the first annual Family Math Night on March 30 from 6 -8 p.m.
The event, held in De LaSalle Hall, was supported by the Dean of the College of Education, as well as plenty of faculty and staff from the Education Department. The main group assisting throughout the evening, however, was the group of 18 elementary, secondary and special education majors from Lewis’ Education Department.
Some 60 children and adults attended the Family Math Night. The algebraic event was advertised at Lewis, as well as local school districts and public libraries. Those from the Lewis community were not the only ones in attendance, however. Families from the surrounding area, including Lockport, Joliet and Romeoville, came out to have some fun and learn a little about math at the same time.
There were plenty of enjoyable arithmetic activities for both parents and the children, ranging from pre-K all the way to eighth grade. Families and Lewis students took part in a variety of problem-solving tasks including shape bingo, fractions with pattern blocks, probability problems and integers with double-sided chips.
Education majors, Lewis faculty and families alike all had nothing but positive things to say by the end of the night. Assistant Professor in Elementary Education, Erica Kwiatkowski-Egizio, was definitely one of them.
“I think the event was fabulous,” said Kwiatkowski-Egizio. “It was well-received by the community, and people kept asking if this will be a regular event.”
Due to the great positive reaction from the community and the success of the event overall, the plans to make Family Math Night an annual occurrence at Lewis are becoming more and more real. In fact, there is already discussion about holding next year’s Family Math Night in mid-April.
“The Teachers of Tomorrow Club and the College of Education hope this event demonstrates that Lewis University is passionate about building partnerships with families who have children in elementary education schools,” added Kwiatkowski-Egizio. “Such partnerships will cultivate future relationships as these students look to hopefully continue their educational experience at the college level [here] at Lewis University.”
Photo provided by Monisa Victrum.
Anthony Lyen
Assistant Tempo Editor | Click here for Anthony's Archives
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