Many Mississippi math students can expect to benefit from their teachers” recent completion of a month-long institute geared toward bringing increased efficiency, student motivation and academic performance into the mathematics classroom.
“I”m learning a lot of wonderful activities to take back to my kids to help in differentiating learning and help them to become more energetic in the activities,” West Lowndes Middle School teacher Janet Sharp said of the 2009 Technology Enhancement of Algebra in Middle School (TEAMS) Institute, which was hosted by Mississippi University for Women and the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science.
“It”s been great,” said China Taylor, a teacher at West Lowndes Middle School. “It”s given me more insight into what excites and gets the kids interested. The different lessons that we”ve done, the (middle school students of MUW”s Crossroads program) reacted good. If our own kids react like that, we have it made already.”
Funded through an $85,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education and Institutions of Higher Learning, the institute was held June 1 through June 26 on the MUW campus.
It began with a review of the Mississippi Framework and mathematics standards, benchmarks and depth-of-knowledge requirements for grades sixth through ninth and included vendors demonstrating products, like electronic whiteboards, graphing calculators, wireless teacher pads and other items.
Participants, which included 20 teachers, received training on developing class Web sites and real-world mathematics story problems; they also were instructed on Singapore Math methods of solving problems quickly without use of writing utensils, paper or calculators.
During the last week of the institute, participating teachers presented real-life story problems to middle school students from the Crossroads program.
“I got a lot of knowledge using technology, especially in the (graphing) calculator,” reported Josie Moore, a teacher at Columbus High School. “And the electronic whiteboard gives me a chance to be able to interact with my students.”
“I”m learning a lot about using techniques and some different teaching methods, different activities I can take back to my (class)room,” said Cheryl Rawls, a teacher at Weir High School. “And I”m kind of borrowing other teachers” brain; you can get great feedback from other teachers in a non-threatening environment and make some great friends as colleagues, resources I can use throughout the year. There are lots of great minds in this room.”
“We”re at the forefront of integrating technology with mathematics,” said Dr. Richard Holden, associate professor of education at MUW and TEAMS Institute creator. “We”re teaching mathematics in a more interesting and entertaining way using the greatest technology out there.
“They”re fantastic,” he added of this year”s group of participating teachers. “We really feel like a team and we”re trying to equip them with the exact stuff they need. They”re getting money to spend (as part of the grant) and we”re trying to put in their hands something we know they will use.”
The participating teachers also help the instructors develop tests to give to students for feedback; the teachers will meet twice during the upcoming school year, in September and April, to report the results of teaching their students with the knowledge they gained from the institute.
In addition to Holden, Institute instructors were Dr. Bonnie Oppenheimer, professor of mathematics at MUW, Bobby Jarrell, an MSMS instructor and Heather Nevins, a teacher at Smithville High School.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 45 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 45 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
