Shore Spotlight: Mathematics
Shore parents and caregivers gathered on campus on Monday, February 26, 2024, for the third event of the Shore Spotlight Series focused on mathematics to learn how our students are guided to be their best as thinkers and doers.
Once attendees had gathered in the Library, Director of Instruction and Inclusion Andrew Lee asked them to write and reflect about one positive experience they have had with math, either as a child or an adult. After reflecting, two breakout groups were formed, one for an Upper School experience and another for a Lower School experience to see what learning math at Shore looks like. In the breakout groups, teachers shared the same skills that they are sharing with their students every day.
In the Upper School session, Math Teacher and Upper School Math Department Chair Anneke Chang shared Shore’s philosophy of math being that “everyone can learn math – geometry, statistics, probability, algebra, number theory – and that everyone can reach national standards and beyond.” Parents and caregivers discussed how this can be possible, and a main theme in the answers is that there are different ways people can learn math. Attendees then moved into a probability activity to demonstrate different ways of solving.
Similarly, in the Lower School session, Grade 4 Teacher and Lower School Math Department Chair James Hubbard talked about how math is taught in many ways in the Lower School. After discussing and debunking common math myths including “there is only one way to do math,” “math can’t be visual or creative,” “math is only independent,” and “it’s bad to make mistakes in math,” parents and caregivers moved into an activity with Hubbard and Lower School Math Specialist Patty Doonan.
After the breakout sessions, attendees rejoined in the Library for a panel discussion about what had been learned and discussed in each experience. Topics included the power of learning and experiencing the practical applications of math, that there are multiple ways to meet learning objectives, and that Shore students are experts at understanding what they need to learn best, advocating for it, and working with their teachers to make it happen.
Resilience and confidence is instilled in our student mathematicians throughout their time at Shore by exploring to gain a foundational understanding which leads to deeper mastery. The third event in our Spotlight Series was another great opportunity to learn firsthand how a Shore education inspires a love of learning and encourages children to embrace academic challenge.
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Shore Country Day School’s mission is to provide an education that inspires a love of learning and encourages children to embrace academic challenge. We seek to build character, cultivate creativity, and value diversity as we help our children become healthy, compassionate citizens of the world.
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