In the second year of CLC involvement the Hay teachers decided to form a team with a focus on math instruction in grades K-4. Dr. Ron Saiet from NEIU was linked with the team, and led group discussions on authentic approaches to teaching math during the group's monthly meetings. Dr. Saiet eventually referred the team to the "Math Their Way" program, a hands-on, problem-solving math curriculum developed by the Center for Innovation in Education.
In the summer of 1996, ten Hay teachers - most previously involved with CLC team work, some new to CLC - enrolled in a "Math Their Way" one-week summer training workshops in the Chicago area. Funding was provided by CLC. They returned to school after that summer workshop, excited and motivated to put what they had learned into practice. Everyone felt the need to establish a vehicle for providing support to each other as they implemented this innovative hands-on way of teaching math. From this evolved a very focused Hay Math Team, supported by the CLC program. As the teachers began to use their new 'manipulatives' and newly learned teaching strategies, they found their thinking and practice evolved towards a more child-centered, problem-solving approach to skill-building. These changes are documented in a reflective conversation recorded at the end of their second year.
The team met regularly twice a month from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. during the school year (scheduled so to avoid conflict with teachers' school schedules or classroom prep time). With CLC funds they were able to buy some of the manipulative materials used in the workshop, including unifix cubes, attribute tiles, Link'n Learn links, pattern blocks, and portion cups. Teachers on the team began making activity with these manipulatives a central part of math instruction. As they adopted this new approach to teaching math, they began to gather or create their own manipulative materials - such as bottle caps for addition and subtraction and candy in jars for estimating.
Math Their Way is a hands-on, problem-solving introduction to mathematics concepts for elementary students. It utilizes materials and activities developed and presented in workshops by the Center for Innovation in Education (CIE), a nonprofit organization with over 20 years of history supporting teachers in search of change. Math Their Way (MTW) workshops and materials are designed for grades K-2 (there is also a workshop/program for grades 3-6 and one for grades 6-9). The MTW workshop seeks to help teachers develop a better understanding of how to create a learning environment that encourages flexible thinking, and that helps students feel some understanding and ownership of the math they are doing - math their way.
The purpose of hands-on activities, often using materials gathered from the child's world, is to help children gradually build a bridge to the adult mathematical world of abstract symbols. Such materials are in themselves engaging -- fun! -- and also provide tools for exploration and problem-solving. Activities involving these materials help kids develop a sense of concepts -- of a number, of addition of two numbers - so that they are better able to grasp the abstract symbolization of these concepts.
Each of the Math Team teachers selected favorite hands-on math activities and described them here. You will find activities for grade levels pre-kindergarten through fourth grade and for learning disability classes. Included with each activity are: the State of Illinois Goal for Learning and Chicago Academic Standard that the activity addresses; the activity itself and materials needed; and a method for assessing student performance. Pictures provide a sense of the activity in action.
The lesson plans presented on this web page are included in a more comprehensive booklet entitled "Math Their Way at Hay Academy", available through the Chicago Teachers Center, CLC Project. All staff were welcome to be part of the Hay Math Team, but the following teachers worked most diligently -- on implementation, mutual support, and the documentation resulting in the booklet: Cynthia Dressler, Carol Argyrakis, Margaret Bettis, Tanya Henderson-Wood; Nancy McGurn, Janette Gruszeczki, Karen Kahle, Lois Reaux, Cussandra Steele-Smith, and Melinda Stapleton.
Click here for lesson plans and activities developed by the Math Team:
| Pre-K:Dressler
| 1st Grade: McGurn |
| 2nd Grade: Gruszeczki | 2nd Grade:
Kahle |
| 3rd Grade: Argyrakis
| 3rd Grade: Henderson |
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4th Grade: Reaux | Special
Education: Stapleton |
Click here for teachers' discussion of the impact of Math Their Way on their own thinking and practice.
"We enjoyed learning about this well-organized, guided discovery type of curriculum....children are discovering the concepts on their own." -- Hay teacher |
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"This way of teaching math is wonderful because the students are actively involved....They love using the materials and they loved math!" -- Hay teacher |
John Hay Academy was recognized for high achievement in math on standardized tests last year. Staff, faculty, LSC members and parents attribute the success to hands-on programs such as "Math Their Way", and the use of manipulatives. The CLC project was instrumental in getting teachers trained in this program. Sandra Crosby, Hay Principal |
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"The real strength of the CLC project was the bringing together of a group of deeply committed teachers. It was a joy to watch them grow as a supportive network of colleagues. They were all genuinely interested in personal growth, but they were even more concerned about improving instruction at Hay Academy. They met religiously, shared accomplishments, and encouraged each other....I don't think I've ever worked with a group of such unselfish, mutually concerned teachers." -- Dr. Ron Saiet, NEIU |
Click here for teachers' discussion of the impact of Math Their Way on their own thinking and practice.
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