Communication Resources
- You can find all Printable & Shareable PDF links to Family Guides for each unit on our Supporting Families Page or under each unit in the Digital Planning Guide.
- Consider sending home the Family Guide Overview at the beginning of the year to help families understand what they are and how to use them.
Family Guide Implementation Tips for Teachers
1. Share at the Start of Each Unit
Send home digitally or in print.
Introduce during newsletters, family communication apps, or a quick mention at family events.
Sample teacher talk:
“Here’s a Family Guide for this unit. It gives families simple ways to talk about math and support learning at home.”
2. Highlight Key Features
Point out the questions—families don’t need to know the answers; asking is what matters.
Share that the activities use everyday situations to make math meaningful.
Sample teacher talk:
“Notice the questions section—families can ask these during a car ride or mealtime to spark math thinking.”
3. Leverage Family Strengths
Recognize that families bring a wide range of knowledge, skills, and cultural practices that enrich their student’s math learning.
Encourage families to connect math to real-life experiences such as budgeting, cooking, construction, shopping, or games.
Value the diverse cultural and linguistic assets families share—these are powerful tools for making math relevant and meaningful.
Sample teacher talk:
“Every family has unique ways of using math—whether that’s comparing prices at the store, adjusting a recipe, or measuring for a project. These experiences are valuable funds of knowledge that help students see how math lives in their everyday world.”
4. Reinforce Throughout the Unit
Reference the guide during class to remind students to use it at home.
Suggest a specific question or activity in weekly updates.
Sample teacher talk:
“This week, try the first activity on your Family Guide—it’s a fun way to practice what we’re learning.”
5. Celebrate Family Engagement
Acknowledge families who share how they supported their student.
Highlight student stories that connect classroom learning with family experiences.
Sample teacher talk:
“I love how you used the guide at home. Let’s share with the class how your family approached that activity!”
✅ Important: The goal is not for families to teach math, but to connect with their student’s learning in ways that feel natural and fun.
Access Family Guides
Select a version or state to locate a Family Guide specific to a grade level and unit.
National (Common Core, not state-specific)