Teachers, students to benefit from high-level math workshops

Reggae Math Foundation (RMF) will be conducting three math professional development workshops at Excelsior Community College in Jamaica this month.

The workshops will be conducted by outstanding math teacher and trainers Dr Dionne Cross Francis of Indiana University in the United States and Dr Tamara Pearson of Georgia Institute of Technology in the US.

Founded by Linda Bailey-McWeeney, a University of the West Indies alumnus, who previously taught at Wolmer's Boys' School, Reggae Math Foundation is on a mission to improve the love and learning of math among teachers and students at all levels in Jamaica.

"We believe that loving and learning math begins with great teachers," said Bailey-McWeeney, who pointed out that Cross Francis, a Jamaican, and Pearson, an American, have for more than a decade facilitated teacher training, focusing on helping educators to support their learners by using hands-on methods to reach students.

Cross Francis and Pearson are returning for their second tour of duty, having conducted workshops with the foundation in Jamaica and elsewhere, which have all been well received.

"We know that teachers are especially interested in professional development for mathematics with the advent of the new PEP (Primary Exit Profile) exam, which focuses on testing a deeper knowledge of mathematics than was done with GSAT and which focuses on critical thinking," noted Bailey-McWeeney

"The workshops will focus on foundation mathematics using math manipulatives (physical objects used to assist with math modeling), active learning and project-based learning."

The teacher trainers are of the view that Jamaica can address poverty through mathematics and related skills, and that the time to invest in Jamaica's people to take advantage of these opportunities is now.

Teachers and students who are interested in future workshops may contact the foundation (RMF) at info@reggaemath.org.