Math Specialists
I found this article interesting because it's actually the reason why I chose to enroll in the ABQ math intermediate math course. The results from the most recent provincial math tests showed that only 57 percent of grade 6 students were meeting expectations, and only two-thirds of grade 3 students were processing math at the levels they should be. Naturally this puts a lot of pressure on schools and teachers to improve math education in the classroom.
The government has decided to try and remedy this situation by encouraging teachers to upgrade their qualifications to become math specialists. They have done this by offer partial subsidies to teachers who enroll in math-related AQ courses, and making it easier for teachers to qualify to take these courses.
I think this is a great idea. I can't think of a downside towards urging teachers to become more proficient at the subjects they teach, especially if it's a subject that they didn't study in university. At the very least, it's a good idea for teachers to familiarize themselves with alternative teaching strategies and different ways of reaching students.
In addition to the above strategies, I think schools should also make an effort to rotate teachers within a school so that teachers are teaching their specialty wherever possible. While this would require some significant planning and organization, it just makes sense to me. I have personally been put in a position during my teaching career where I was not only expected to teach a subject that I didn't study in university, but also one that I didn't study in high school (grade 12 physics). As hard as I tried, there is no way I could match the expertise of someone who is fully qualified to teach the subject.
Unfortunately this article gets a little bit too political for my tastes by the end. I understand that certain parties may have mixed motives, but I would like to see the focus begin and end with student success.
Overall, I applaud the effort. It's great that they were able to identify a problem through standardized testing, and it's great that the government is making an effort to remedy the situation.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-wants-to-see-more-math-specialists-in-classrooms-1.2489046
Geoff, thanks for sharing this article.
ReplyDeleteThere is such a need in schools to ensure students are successful in math. There is a lot of pressure on schools and educators to deliver this content. I'm currently preparing my Grade 6 class for their upcoming EQAO and they are so stressed out because we have yet to get through all the curriculum. I think it's important for teachers to keep their math skills fresh because it's definitely not a subject that will be removed from the school curriculum anytime soon!