In the wider community
Many parents are puzzled by what their children are learning in mathematics and how they are learning it. It is just not what they remember.
It makes good sense to inform parents and others about the changes occurring in school mathematics, and National Mathematics Day is an ideal opportunity. The links below provide access to a variety of parent-friendly information (both Australian and international), and may give you some ideas to explore with parents and your local community. Maybe you could put a short piece in the school newsletter, set up a display in the classroom or foyer, or hold a workshop evening for families...
Helping your child with arithmetic
Parents Count Too is a leaflet from the NSW Department of Education and Training, which suggests ways in which parents can support young children's learning in number using songs, games, books and everyday household items. Available in 23 languages.
What can I do to help my child?
From the New Zealand Maths website - encouragement for parents to be supportive, listen, and give children opportunitites to do mathematics at home. The Families page on this site also provides a variety of family-friendly activities related to number sequence, place value and number facts, as well as a glossary of terms.
NCTM Resources
Access to a downloadable page with some thoughts about how you might reply when families ask "Why aren't students learning to add, subtract, multiply, and divide like we did?", as well as a complete (and free) version of the NCTM publication A Family's Guide: Fostering Your Child's Success in School Mathematics.
How can I help my primary school child with maths at home?
A page from the BBC (UK) 'Schools' website, with suggestions to support parents in recognising opportunities in family life to reinforce their children's learning in mathematics.
Helping your child learn math - A parent's guide
A publication from the Ontario Ministry of Education (Canada), which can be viewed either online or as a downloadable PDF file.
Communicating with parents
Tips for teachers from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (US).