SUCCESS STORY
Background
The "junior years"
(grades 4 through 6) are a critical time of change, when students
must work with more complex mathematical concepts. Students who
learn quickly will be more confident and interested in math.
However, for those frustrated by math's complexities, students may
become disengaged and lose their natural ability to think
mathematically.
To improve their understanding of
math and how it applies to the real world, students require
intensive subject-focused work, combined with the setting of
improvement targets.
The Student
Ten-year-old Reimer
enjoys playing soccer and video games. A student under the Ottawa
Catholic Board of Education, his favourite school subject is
physical education.
The fourth grade was particularly
challenging for Reimer. Mainly due to difficulties in math -
specifically fractions and numeration - he was held back for the
following school year.
The Solution
Elenita, Reimer's
mother, began to look for a certified teacher who could help
improve her son's grades through customized after-school academic
coaching. She then learned of the Pro-Active Education Program
(PEP).
PEP, an innovative after-school
support program, focuses on personalized learning. Its academic
coaches - all certified teachers with bachelors, masters and
doctoral degrees - tailor programs to student needs, combining the
Ontario school curriculum with current teaching methods of
worldwide educational systems.
Dr. Monjur Chowdhury, Director of
PEP, is an Ontario certified teacher with a Bachelor of Education
degree from Queen's University and a Ph.D. in Science and
Technology. He is also an occasional teacher in the
Ottawa-Carleton District School Board.
During their first meeting, Monjur
identified several factors affecting Reimer's ability to learn.
"I wanted to assess not only
Reimer's academic ability, but also to find the reasons behind his
problems in school," says Monjur. After speaking with Elenita,
Reimer, and evaluating Reimer's home learning environment, Monjur
identified preliminary solutions for improving Reimer's grades.
"When I first visited Reimer's home,
I realized he did not have a specific place dedicated to
studying," says Monjur. "Furthermore, he often had difficulty
finding his exercise books and textbooks. I recommended that his
mother arrange a space where he could study, to help Reimer feel
more organized where math was concerned."
Monjur then created a personalized
curriculum for Reimer, combined with training in organizational
and time management skills.
"Reimer needed some
motivation to realize that math is not that tough, or that scary.
All it takes is learning to understand it. I was confident that,
together, we could significantly improve his grades in math," says
Monjur.
The Benefits
Over a seven-month
period, Monjur worked with Reimer for two hours every week after
school and observe Reimer's progress.
Monjur applied unique methods to
assist Reimer in understanding fractions.
"We would cut up an apple into
pieces, and then discuss how fractions worked," says Monjur. "We
would also go through his kitchen so he could learn to understand
how measurements work, such as with baking items like measuring
cups. This way, Reimer could see how fractions were going to work
outside of school, and how they apply to everyday life."
Elenita noticed positive results
almost immediately, as did Reimer's school.
"One of the teachers commented to me
how much better Reimer was doing, how much he was improving," she
says. "Monjur is a great one-on-one teacher in that he keeps my
son focused on what he's supposed to be learning. If Reimer isn't
paying attention or begins to lose focus, Monjur notices and finds
a way to get him back on track."
The Results
Within three months,
Reimer's tutoring sessions began to pay off: his grades had
improved significantly, and he was beginning to receive marks in
the 70% range - including one A.
"Having a little extra
assistance with math has helped Reimer to feel so much better
about himself," says Monjur. "He's not so nervous about answering
questions anymore. And now, he's going to school and doing much
better."
Today, Reimer feels more confident
about his ability to learn and understand math. Seven months after
working with Monjur, Reimer no longer needs after-school
assistance.
"The Pro-active Education Program
really helped my son," says Elenita. "I'm so happy with the
results. Reimer is a much happier boy now, and I know that if he
has trouble in grade 5 with math, that we have a support system to
fall back on for help."
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