Math program is tailored to students’ different learning styles | Education - Canadian Jewish News

When it comes to teaching math, Hebrew Academy Grade 6 teachers Sheri Gray and Lauren Thurber are way ahead of the curve, explains CJN Staff.

From left, Hebrew Academy teacher Lauren Thurber, Grade 6 students Benjamin Bendaya, Ayelet Scheier and Aidan Knafo, and teacher Sheri Gray pose in front of their Super Mathio board, where students measure their progress.
Photo: Canadian Jewish News

The two Montreal day school teachers have developed a self-paced math program that has been a huge hit with their students – so much so that the teachers were invited to share their creation at the recent Quebec Provincial Association of Teachers’ annual convention.

At a time when Hebrew Academy’s elementary school is increasingly applying differentiated instruction (DI), an educational framework that tailors learning to the individual needs of the student, Gray and Thurber’s program – which Gray calls “Math Quest” and Thurber calls “Super Mathio” – exemplifies this educational approach at its best, they say.

DI’s proponents recognize that in a classroom with dozens of students, effective instruction cannot be one-size-fits-all...

Each unit in the curriculum explores multiple concepts over eight lessons. For the first step – instruction – students might watch a mini tutorial online, read a lesson in their class textbook or request a one-on-one or small group lesson with the teacher. At times, the teachers might also give a brief class lesson.

“The students love to watch the videos because as they’re watching, they can pause and watch them again if they need to,” said Thurber. “They can’t do that with a teacher. Kids can also do an example along with the video.”

The students then practise what they’ve learned (Step 2) by completing exercises or activities, including workbook lessons and online games. They then self-correct their answers with those posted online and check in with the teacher to demonstrate that they’ve mastered the concept (Step 3).

Once they are given the all clear, students think about what they’ve learned (Step 4) by recording themselves on Flipgrid, a video-discussion platform that’s viewable by their classmates and teachers.
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Source: Canadian Jewish News