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 Liliane Gauthier, Yellowknife Catholic Schools math coach, gave advice on improving the math program. |
Gauthier gave the board 100 recommendations to improve the mathematics program at all levels of the separate school system.
Gauthier -- who was hired last year specifically to collect and analyze data -- and a program analysis team have been developing the report over the past year.
The team included Gauthier, nine teachers, two external reviewers from the College of Education at the University of Saskatchewan and a steering committee.
They collected information about the present program through interviews, observations, questionnaires, a needs assessment survey, standardized tests and research.
Since the NWT scored second from last nationally on the 2001 School Achievement Indicators program mathematics test, both school districts have been exploring ways to improve the present program.
Language barriers, especially in the smaller communities, is one of the reasons behind the low scores, Dan Daniels, director of policy and planning at the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, said earlier.
Gauthier said although literacy is important, mathematics shouldn't be left by the wayside. Textbooks need to be used more often because they are 95 per cent curriculum based. Kids also need to know how to read non-fiction so they can problem solve properly, said Gauthier. Her report suggested hiring math specialists for all grade levels because most elementary teachers have a humanities background.
"Specialists have the advantage because they can do defective learning," said Gauthier.
She also said the students experience too many interruptions during class time, which breaks student concentration and takes away valuable learning time.
The board will now review the recommendations and determine how to implement the changes.
