For some students, mathematics comes naturally. For others, solving a math problem can be frustrating, confusing or even intimidating. Helping every student develop the skills and confidence to succeed is something educators across Ontario are working to achieve.
That shared goal brought educators and school leaders together at the Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB) for a two-day JUMP Math Implementation Summit.
The summit welcomed OCSB principals, vice-principals and Math Leads, and classroom teachers, along with representatives from several Ontario school boards, to explore what research and evidence tells us about how children learn mathematics and how that knowledge can improve classroom instruction and student achievement.
Helping Students See Themselves as Mathematicians
One of the biggest challenges in teaching mathematics is helping students who believe they simply aren’t good at it.
JUMP Math takes a structured, step-by-step approach to learning, allowing students to build their understanding as they develop new skills. Rather than expecting students to make large leaps in their learning, lessons break mathematical concepts into manageable steps.
The summit explored the Science of Learning and what research tells us about how students understand, remember and apply mathematical concepts.
For educators, this means looking beyond what they teach to consider how students learn and what approaches give them the best opportunity to succeed.
Sharing What Works and What Needs Work
The summit brought together representatives from the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario, Upper Canada District School Board, Durham District School Board, Northeastern Catholic District School Board and other Ontario boards.
Participants shared their experiences implementing JUMP Math, including successes, challenges and how student learning data can help determine whether an approach is working.
These conversations are particularly valuable because schools don’t all have the same experiences or challenges. What works in one classroom may need to be adapted for another, and sometimes the most useful lessons come from hearing what hasn’t gone according to plan.
OCSB staff from Special Education, English as a Second Language, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion and other departments also participated, bringing different perspectives on how mathematics instruction can support students with a range of learning needs.
Taking What We’ve Learned Back to Our Classrooms
The summit was an opportunity to look at how the OCSB JUMP Math pilot is progressing and what educators need to consider as the work continues.
Our Strategic Commitment to Be Innovative encourages us to examine research, explore new approaches and make thoughtful decisions about teaching and learning. Just as importantly, Be Community reminds us of the value of working together and sharing what we know.
Bringing educators from across Ontario together allowed participants to learn from colleagues facing many of the same questions and challenges.
The real value of that learning will be seen in what happens next, as educators take those conversations and ideas back to their schools.
A New Beginning Can Start With One Math Problem
Our Spiritual Theme, Open Doors, Build Bridges, Nourish New Beginnings, has a meaningful connection to this work.
For a student who has struggled with mathematics, a new beginning doesn’t have to be something dramatic. It might be the first time a difficult concept makes sense, the confidence to raise a hand in class, or the realization that getting an answer wrong doesn’t mean they can’t succeed.
As educators, we have a responsibility to help create those opportunities.
The JUMP Math Summit was about equipping teachers and school leaders with more knowledge, practical and evidence-based pedagogical approaches, and opportunities to learn from one another so they can better support the students in their care.
Because sometimes, helping a student succeed in mathematics begins with helping them believe they can.
