The National Museum of Mathematics Extends Math Outreach Program to Encourage Early Math Fluency

By Melissa Wickes January 7, 2019

The National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath) in Nomad is continuing its innovative math outreach program, MoMath 2 Go: the Family Math Initiative, with a partnership with the Long Island Explorium in Port Jefferson. This program is designed to help families learn how to comfortably discuss math with preschool through second-grade children and to involve parents who may not have access to the latest in math education.

The program was designed as part of a collaborative study with the University of Chicago Science of Learning Center (SLC). Susan C. Levine, Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychology and SLC Director, led the SLC team in discovering that conversations about math between children and parents can help reduce the math achievement gap and increase children's spatial fluency. MoMath's partnership aims to build on this research.

MoMath 2 Go: the Family Math Initiative features two MoMath exhibitions, Ring of Fire" and "Miles of Tiles," along with specially created MoMath 2 Go "tip cards" that facilitate math-related discussions for parents and children. The two exhibits aim to demonstrate the ability to stimulate early math fluency in children.

"We are pleased to partner with the Long Island Explorium in bringing the MoMath 2 Go program to reach additional communities," said Cindy Lawrence, Executive Director of the Long Island Explorium. "We have made it our mission to partner with like-minded institutions to enhance our innovative and cutting edge programs and resources for families and children."