All of Jennifer Fisher’s students, seated on the carpet in front of her, waved their arms in the air, eyes as bright as if they were getting ice cream, when she exclaimed, “Raise your hands if you LOVE math!”

Ms. Fisher’s first grade students at Pattie Elementary School really do love math, she says, because their lessons are interactive, student-directed, and fun. Students do problem solving in groups, and learn from each other. “My goal is for students to use math, to find it as useful as we have made reading in our classrooms, and to challenge themselves to think outside the box,” said Ms. Fisher.

Ms. Fisher began the school year excited about using strategies for teaching math that she learned in a summer course offered by the School Division. She sought out courses that would help her teach math using different approaches. “There is no one way to learn math. Students need to be encouraged to find a way that makes sense to them.”

After taking a Math Recovery course, Ms. Fisher wanted to learn even more, and jumped at the chance to take a Math Solutions course based on the teaching and research of nationally known educator Marilyn Burns. “When I left the course I started playing around with what I learned, and since I was taught in a traditional sense, I had to relearn basic approaches to math that were so much more effective,” said Ms. Fisher.

Ms. Fisher is one of 200 teachers for grades kindergarten through eight who completed one of two interactive, exciting, and rigorous Math Solutions seminars. “Our teachers gained new insight into how children learn mathematics. They learned how to develop students’ ability to reason, solve problems, and communicate their ideas about mathematics while also helping them develop a positive attitude toward mathematics,” said Carol Knight, Supervisor of Mathematics.

Follow-up professional development sessions are scheduled throughout the year to give teachers the opportunity to meet, share, and discuss what they are doing with other teachers. These include “Teaching in the Strand ” classes for K – 8 and Math Intervention classes for K – 5 offered through George Mason University .

Extended Math workshops are available through the School Division’s Office of Mathematics. “The enthusiasm for learning and teaching mathematics is catching on as more and more teachers take advantage of these fabulous opportunities,” said Mrs. Knight. “Students of all levels will benefit. View the Math Web Site

Members of the Mathematics Focus Group are pictured above, from left to right:  Linda Nuckols, Carol Knight, Patty Clark; (back) Donna Stofko, Carol Livingston, Linda Wood.

11/29/05