A Kitchener school is being recognized for successful learning strategies, that have helped improved EQAO test scores.
St. Aloysius Catholic Elementary School is one of five schools across Ontario being profiled for developing math programs that have helped students who had not met the provincial mathematics standard in Grade three to improve to meet it in Grade six.
Teacher Dave Glofcheski says he invites students to come up to the board during lessons, to show how they would solve a problem, and talk it through with their fellow students.
“In doing that, they become more critical thinkers and learners, and are able to self-level or self-code their work,” says Glofcheski.
They also use a method they call the “three Vs.”
“I use the strategy … to visualize, verbalize and verify. And that helps me with my math questions,” says student Izabella Kokosy.
Superintendent of Learning and Programs for the Waterloo Catholic District School Board, John Klein, says they try to introduce word problems rooted in real-life situations.
For example, students would be asked to plan a garden, and they can decide to build a rectangle or in a curved pattern, and then calculate the area.
The students then discuss their answers as a group, which teachers say helps them understand that there is more than one way to solve a problem.
They also learn tools to self-evaluate, and evaluate their peers.
The board says another key component is clearly outlining the learning goals for students, and giving frequent feedback when they’ve been successful.
