COLUMBUS — Twenty middle school mathematics teachers have gathered to help students prepare for the future at the College and Career Readiness Mathematics Institute on the campus of Mississippi University for Women.
“The institute will demonstrate that mathematics is involved in everything we do and that almost every situation can be made into a mathematical problem or story,” said Dr. Richard Holden, professor of education.
Since June 1, area middle school teachers have attended the mathematics institute at The W. At the institute, teachers interact with W faculty for specialty training that will equip them for the new College and Career Readiness Standards, the Standards for Mathematical Practice and effective methodologies for teaching these standards to middle school students.
In addition to covering the standards and practices, the institute is focusing on teaching methodologies that involve using real-world mathematical stories, YouTube teacher playlists, hands-on activities and teaching standards through games.
“Participating teachers are learning to model effective real-life mathematical storytelling to their students, who in turn will learn to develop stories for one another,” Holden said.
The institute is funded by the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) grant. The $90,000 grant was awarded to The W’s Department of Education in 2013 to conduct summer institutes for local middle school teachers. In January of 2002, the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB Act), became law. Title II, Part A of these legislations authorized Federal Awards to State Agencies for Higher Education (SAHEs) for an Improving Teacher Quality competitive grant program.
The institute will last until June 26. Current participants include teachers from Columbus Middle School, Columbus Alternative School, B.F. Liddle Middle School, Caledonia Middle School, New Hope Middle School, West Lowndes Middle School and Lowndes County Alternative School.
Dr. Holden can be reached at [email protected] for additional information. Interested individuals may also contact the education department at (662) 329-7191.
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