Embracing 'productive struggle': César Chávez Elementary parents dive into the new way kids are learning math

Jose Medrano and Rebeca Zapata shuddered at what their daughter, Miranda Zapata, brought home one recent day: fifth grade math homework.

 “Since it’s something I haven’t practiced recently, I feel like I need to catch up,” Medrano said.

What stumped him was the fractions Miranda was seeking help with. For Zapata, it was a dreaded set of decimal problems.

“If I can’t be there to guide her or help her in anything she’s doing in school, I feel like she’ll fall behind,” Medrano said. “And if I don’t put effort, then she won’t think it’s something I want.”

They were two in a flood of families, students and teachers who filled the gym at César Chávez Elementary School this week for a math night for students and their guardians to learn about the district’s math tools — and a new shift in the