Gloucester Alumni

By Julio Chuy
Gloucester Daily Times
Staff writer

Lynn Munroe has taught students how to solve math problems for the last several years.

Munroe, 46, said numbers and computations have not changed drastically since she and other parents learned the basics.

How to solve those problems, however, has changed.

Tonight, Munroe is taking a lead role in showing parents how they can better help their children tackle those math problems at home.

"Different Approaches to Computation," a parent workshop, will be presented to parents and their third-, fourth- and fifth-graders at Fuller Elementary School's Parent Center, starting at 5:30.

"After the workshop, parents and students will walk away with a strong understanding of numbers," said Munroe, a fifth-grade teacher.

The workshop is designed to help parents and students understand new math-solving approaches.

The free event is open to the public. Transportation and child care for younger siblings will be provided free of charge.

Munroe said students often need help solving math problems and parents are in the dark about new approaches the are being taught at school.

The workshop will give parents an opportunity to learn these basic skills, Munroe said.

The event is part of a 16-workshop program funded with a $3,000 grant the school received from the National Association of Elementary School Principals.

"The grant is designated to help parents and children learn together," Fuller Principal Sue Ellen Hogan said.

Fuller School was the only school in the state to receive one of the 30 grants given by the association, Hogan said. Another math-related program will be scheduled sometime next month.