Students returned to classrooms filled with boxes of new mathematical tools while teachers returned with a process for balancing basic skills, problem solving and mathematical investigations. Mathematics in the balance has been the ongoing theme of the Mathematics Instructional Improvement Committee for two years.

Balance and high standards echoed throughout an intensive two day inservice on August 22 and 23. Teachers received, proportionally, philosophy, theory and practice as they were introduced to the newly adopted and rigorous Mathematics Standards by principals Debbie Blow (La Costa Heights) and Gail Patterson (Flora Vista). The standards identify what all children will be expected to do as they progress through school. Breakout sessions provided by Creative Publications consultants gave teachers an overview of the Mathland materials and program.

Turning theory into practice became the focus of the Friday sessions as our teacher experts gave hands-on experience to all staff in grade level groups. Teachers such as Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary School’s Ed Weber (fourth grade) learned finger multiplication (quite rapidly actually) while Steve Klass, Pacific View and Sarah Kibbee, Mission Estancia, had the sixth grade teachers measuring and practicing on finding the mean, median and mode.

First grade teachers learned about Fantasy Lunches, while second grade teachers not only sorted Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary teacher Steven Walker’s mathematical tools (in exchange for using them), but were led through the first several weeks of lessons by Anne Crenshaw (Flora Vista) and Lencsi Angel (Paul Ecke Central).

Teachers of multi-graded classrooms had their own inservice to develop unique learning opportunities for their students: Meghan Ling, Donna DiSalvo, Cory Swonetz, LaDonna Coles, Arlene DeTuri, Maureen Laughlin, Jan Weight, Cristi Cunningham, Darlene Johanson, Anne Crenshaw, Lencsi Andel, Michelle Lyons, Cybele Botran, Terri Carter, Laurie Rose, Judy Thum, Margaret Read, Joanna Devendorf, Karen Knudsen, Chris Livingston, Debbie Blow, Cathy Bullock, Steve Griffith, Tom Stevenson, Gail Patterson, Sarah Kibbee and Steve Klass.

Our thanks to all of the presenters for their outstanding sessions. Teachers left the inservice with everything they would need for the Explorations week and Unit 1 on data collection and analysis, and grade levels investigated Unit 2. Classroom posters for teaching, games and materials usage were prepared in advance by Debbie Blackburn Senior Secretary in Educational Services to provide a ready, set, go process for implementing the new materials.

Response to the workshops was overwhelmingly positive with teachers asking for more of these valuable sessions throughout the year. The Mathematics Instructional Improvement Committee has planned for late fall and early spring, repeats of these valuable inservices.