New Math
Parents can often find the current methods of teaching math quite different from what they might have encountered in school. Here are some comments from the TDSB Math Department:
- The changes in math curricula in North America over the last several years have aimed at addressing the type of math knowledge and skills required in present society;
- How we aim to teach math and the strategies we use are based on research, including brain research. We now are taking into account students with special needs, gender differences, cultural differences etc., whereas in the past this wasn't the case;
- We are not saying get rid of memorization, formulas, and algorithms, but we are saying add understanding, different methods, different approaches to these;
- Reasoning is more important than memorizing. If we want students to be able to solve problems, apply formulas, then they need to understand; and
- Parents most likely are not familiar with many of the strategies students are learning. When supporting their child, they might ask questions like: What have you been asked to do? Can you show me one example? What would happen if...? If the answer is X, how can you use this method to show the answer?
TDSB Celebration of Student Poetry 2011-2012
The English/Literacy and French as a Second Language departments collaborated to develop the 12th Annual district-wide publication of student poetry. Urban Voices/L’écho de la ville 2011-2012 includes work in English and French by students from Kindergarten to Grade 8.
The Urban Voices/L’écho de la ville is a district-wide literacy strategy that engages Kindergarten - Grade 8 students in creative experiences that come from playing with language through poetry and the writing of poetry on issues that are profound as well as whimsical. It also creates a platform for teacher leadership and for all students to experience success from engaging in writing for publication.
More than 60 teachers and 1500 students benefitted from an innovative poetry course with an intentional focus on the art and craft of writing poetry. For the first time ever in the history of this strategy, over 1,000 submissions from 100 schools were received electronically. Although a selection of student poetry will be published in the anthology, many more poems can be found on the English/Literacy Academic Workspace that celebrates all student authors and create mentor texts which teachers can access for instruction. The work of these gifted young writers will be celebrated this year in four ceremonies, one in each quadrant of the city.
Celebrations of our published authors will focus on the expression of student voice through poetry, art and song.
Congratulations to all involved!
