Grant amount
NIS 150,000
Leadership Course And Seminars For Mathematics Coaches And Teachers
Leadership Course and Seminars for Mathematics Coaches and Teachers towards Implementing a New Policy of Integrating Applied Mathematics in Middle School
Leadership Course and Seminars for Mathematics Coaches and Teachers towards Implementing a New Policy of Integrating Applied Mathematics in Middle School
Teaching mathematics in middle school focuses on procedural fluency and technique needed for later stages of learning in high school. In recent years, the Ministry of Education upgraded the curriculum in order to smooth the transition between middle school and high school. This change included elevating the levels of mathematical thinking in middle school and incorporating applied mathematics tasks. In practice, however, since the tests have not changed, teachers remained faithful to the previous curriculum, rarely offering the applied mathematics tasks and if so, typically as self-learning enrichment assignments for high performing students.
Therefore, the Chief Inspector of Mathematics Teaching at the Ministry is now proposing an implementation plan. The plan has two goals: to elevate the level of mathematical thinking across the curriculum while integrating tasks that require deeper understanding; and to transform two of the topics in the curriculum (probability and powers) from abstract to applied, in alignment with the PISA framework. The Ministry is also considering modifying the test to include this content as well.
In order to translate the plan into actual practice, the Ministry turned to the Davidson Institute, and together they approached the foundation. They asked us to help with preparing the professional capabilities of teachers for this change. The Davidson Institute is proposing to conduct a training program for the district and city mathematics coaches across the country. In the coming summer, two online seminars will be executed for the 200 coaches and for 500 teachers, with presentations and discussions of the new policy and the new material developed by the foundation’s partners.
In the second stage, during the coming school year, 10 district coaches, with an additional two city coaches from each district, will participate in a leadership course over 60 hours. This course will offer more thorough acquaintance with the new content and prepare implementation strategies with the teachers.