Emerald Studies in Out-of-School Learning – serie

An often-misunderstood aspect of learning, parental engagement is key to children’s learning across all subjects. However, mathematics especially is perceived as an area in which out-of-school and home learning is absent. Tim Jay and Jo Rose, the authors of Parental Engagement and Out-of-School Mathematics Learning, confront this misconception.The authors conclusions are drawn from two large research projects that investigate both children’s and their parents mathematical thinking and learning outside of school, ‘discovering’ the mathematics involved in everyday activities. The practical and theoretical findings demonstrate a new approach to educational research that subverts and disrupts traditional models and approaches to help harmonise school and home learning.Challenging preconceived ideas and supporting children to acquire mathematical understandings, Parental Engagement and Out-of-School Mathematics Learning informs innovative and vital educational policy and practice.

Out-of-school learning spans varied formal and informal contexts and is hugely important for the lives of children. The need for time, flexibility, and agility in research within this field is highlighted throughout this multi-disciplinary edited volume, as each author reflects on how to make sense of the unknown and varied contexts in which out-of-school learning takes place.A range of different case studies discuss research methods used, challenges faced, and ways challenges were overcome in relation to out-of-school learning are presented, followed by a series of critical reflections. The case studies include a range of research foci and methods, from large-scale quantitative secondary data analysis, through interviews and workshops, to ethnographic and participatory methods.A series of shorter reflections drawing on all case studies consider the negotiation of the researcher role, building relationships, the ways knowledge is constructed, the role of place and power, keeping hold of messiness and complexity, ethical practice; and ‘slow research’.The principles outlined in this volume are relevant for all research on learning, whenever and wherever it takes place – whether in school or out-of-school.