Local math teachers learn new techniques to engage students
By Chris Fortune
Students never stop learning as they advance through grade school, and the same goes for teachers, who strive to grow in their profession.
The Missouri Council of Teachers of Mathematics came to Carden Park Elementary to help St. Joseph School District math instructors do just that. Carden Park teacher Kelly Robb serves as a board member for MCTM, which provides learning and instruction opportunities for math teachers to deepen their understanding of math.
“Then we can take those activities to the students and deepen their understanding of mathematics as well,” Robb said.
Over 80 teachers attended the conference in St. Joseph, and they were split into four groups that corresponded with the level of math they taught.
MCTM travels and spends a couple of days in cities across the state each summer, including Columbia and Springfield, to give teachers a chance to attend the conferences.
“We travel and bring it to the teachers in those areas, and we had come to St. Joseph years ago, and I convinced them to come back starting last year,” she said. “And we’ve brought the numbers, and teachers are excited around here that we’re back in this area.”
The council wrapped up the two-day conference on Tuesday, which Oak Grove Elementary math teacher Rebecca Bailey found productive as she learned from fellow educators.
“I feel like I get a ton of ideas that I can take back and start implementing in my classroom pretty much day one,” she said.
About 1 in 4 tested students at St. Joseph elementary and middle schools tested well below par in math last school year, according to News-Press NOW reporting in February.
Bailey said teachers are often faced with similar scenarios, including helping students overcome adversity, as they parse through what techniques work in their classrooms.
“Our group is really talking a lot about productive struggle,” she said. “And something that I really want to get better at as an educator is helping my kids get a little better at math grit (which) is what I kind of call it.”
Deborah Wehr is retired from the St. Joseph School District, but she continues to teach middle school math at Riverside Middle School in Wathena, Kansas. She consistently uses hands-on tools for learning.
“I’m always looking at how I can hone my own teaching, whether it’s through activities, through vocabulary, through structures that set them up for success,” she said.
MCTM presenter Diane Broberg enjoys visiting St. Joseph because of the teachers’ attentiveness and desire to improve.
“One of the big things about St. Joe is the teachers are completely invested,” she said. “They are engaged, they’re excited, and they’re looking for ways to take things back to the classroom.”
The excitement from teachers brings excitement to Coleman Elementary Principal Cindy King. She attended the conference to support the teachers and understand what they were learning.
“I’m just really proud of the teachers for not only giving up their summertime to come learn about math and how to best help their students, but they’re engaged, they’re having fun, they’re laughing, they’re playing games, and they’re enjoying their time and looking forward to taking this stuff back to their classrooms,” she said.
