35 educators benefit from DPH math workshop
THIRTY-FIVE teachers from primary schools in St Mary received a boost in their grasp and delivery of mathematics after participating in a DPH mathematics workshop, held recently at the Anglican Church Hall in Port Maria.
DPH, a brand of Lascelles Laboratories, successfully staged the workshop with the aim of improving the competencies and performances of children in mathematics. The workshop was held in conjunction with the Ministry of Education.
“DPH is committed to ensuring the development of numeracy skills at the primary level as this is an important means of setting a good foundation in developing their reasoning ability and other cognitive skills,” said Neleen Leslie, brand manager for DPH.
“Problem-solving” was the major topic discussed and it was presented by Marcia Campbell-Hall, math resource teacher and a national trainer for the Ministry of Education.
Campbell-Hall said that “problem solving is one of those topics that children have difficulty mastering. Children sometimes find it difficult to understand what is being asked of them when the math problems are written in words. To address this, we looked at the different strategies that can be used to simplify these problems”.
Organising data aided by pictures or charts, and rewriting problems using simpler words or an equation, were some of the strategies that the teachers were encouraged to use.
According to Campbell-Hall, teachers were encouraged to utilise other things around them, such as word or card games, as creative means of explaining problem-solving to their students.
A handbook to guide students from grades one to 11 was also issued to teachers for the purposes of helping students to build mathematical knowledge through problem-solving, solve problems that arise in math or other contexts, and applying and adapting a variety of strategies to problem-solving.
“I basically wanted them to grasp the understanding that problem-solving is a skill, a tool and a process,” said Campbell-Hall.
Participant Lynneve Flemmings said the information she received at the workshop would go a far way in enhancing how she teaches the subject.
“I found the workshop to be very interactive. The method used by the presenter allowed us to share ideas and with the use of activities we were able to unravel the secrets about problem-solving in mathematics,” said the woman who teaches at Albion Mountain Primary.
She added that the topic was very appropriate because students usually find it difficult to solve problems, noting that the strategies learned at the workshop, when imparted, will help to develop the students’ problem-solving skills.
DPH held similar math workshops for teachers in Clarendon and Westmoreland.