International math educator Marilyn Holmes has spent more than a decade researching how children understand numbers and she’s sharing her expertise with the Primary School teachers and students of Qatar Academy.
“Marilyn is an expert on how we can effectively assess and teach mathematics,” according to Joneen Walker, Assistant Principal. “She has many years of experience as a teacher, lecturer and facilitator and has been involved in the research and development of how children understand number”.
Currently working as a Numeracy Regional Coordinator and Adviser for University of Otago’s Education Support Services in New Zealand, Holmes is maximizing here two-week stint at Qatar Academy, working closely together with teachers by running diagnostic assessments and doing in class modeling followed by professional development sessions after. The first week is devoted to general number knowledge activities, the second is focused on small group modeling strategy which includes, among other things, manipulatives for the lower grades and group work and problem solving for the higher levels.
“Talk to each other, find a way to solve it and agree on an answer,” she instructs a group of students. Her hands are adept in handling the manipulatives, firing questions one after the other to students who are up to the challenge and tries to answer every question. But she also listens intently as the groups try to come up with the correct answer. “I want to know how you solved it; I want to hear the process.”
Sitting nearby, the QA teachers are also interested in learning how the students process math concepts, explore solutions and provide valid answers. They take down notes and share ideas while they observe the children. Later, they will discuss in detail their observations and explore strategies on how to build a solid knowledge of numbers in order to develop learning and thinking strategies.
Every class is different and students have varying learning styles and teachers must be willing to be trained to address these different needs. “The idea is to build up the teacher’s capability and that will improve the student achievement,” Holmes shares.
She will wrap up her visit this week and return early next year to hold sessions in the Senior School and follow-up with the Primary School teachers.
The Peninsula
