Curriculum and Pedagogy
Aim to Innovate
One of our College values is 'Aim to Innovate' which means here at ECSC we encourage enquiry and critical thinking. This value extends to both staff and students and helps to frame the way we continue to challenge what we do as educators and learners.
Jacqueline Corsetti is a Graduate Maths teacher who, together with her colleagues, is one of the driving forces behind ensuring that the way Maths is taught is innovative, engaging and effective. I asked Jacque some questions about the innovative work that our Mathematics team are currently embarking on and the positive impact it is already having on students in our Maths classrooms.
What kind of Maths student were you at secondary school?
I really enjoyed Maths. I was motivated to complete my work in class as well as extension work. I was fortunate enough to complete Year 12 Further Maths in Year 11.
Describe the kind of Maths teacher you aspire to be. What does a dynamic Maths class look like for you?
My biggest aim as a Maths teacher is to engage students and help them understand the importance of Maths by relating it to real life situations. To me, a dynamic Maths class is where all students are completing tasks that are suited to their level and students are assisting each other.
One of our College values is ‘Aim to Innovate’. What excites you about the way the ECSC team is approaching the teaching of Maths to middle school students?
Having the opportunity to see how another school runs their scaffolding, reciprocal teaching and differentiated Maths classes, I am so excited to start implementing this with our Middle school students. I believe this will engage students in Maths and target their individual strengths and challenge them.
What impact have the changes had on student learning and engagement so far?
Students in Year 7 and 8 have shown massive growth in regards to engagement in our new Reciprocal teaching sessions. They are thriving on being able to choose their partner and level of problem, and having the opportunity to break down the problem to solve it. This program has developed their independence as they are not being taught or told what they need to do and instead have to figure it out for themselves.
What are you most looking forward to in 2020?
I am most looking forward to giving Maths a fresh look using the strategies I have been able to learn this year and share them with other teachers and, most importantly, the students.
I also spoke with Rohan Desai in Year 8 about the change in Maths this term.
"In reciprocal lessons we get a wide variety of problems to choose from based on the level of difficulty you are at. The pages in the booklet shows the steps we need to take to solve the problem".
Rohan highlighted how this approach to Maths has made him a better thinker and Mathematician "The process of reading the question and reflecting on the answer helps when you haven't heard that type of question before. You have new strategies to use and a new ability to answer the question".
When asked about improvement Rohan believes he has shown progress. He states "I have changed my thinking skills and how I use them to solve questions. I know I have improved in the way I think".
Next year Rohan says he is looking forward to trying learning new Maths topics and doing more hands on activities in class "I like working in groups to share how we think and learn things about other people."