LA JOLLA, CA, JUNE 3, 2009: Three teachers from The Children's School were recently honored for completing the Mathematics Specialist Certificate Program (MSCP) at San Diego State University, which is designed to help teachers acquire a deep understanding of the mathematics they teach and the skills they need to teach mathematics more effectively. To complete the program, the teachers attended classes in the evenings and during the summer for the past two years.
The educators from The Children's School (TCS) who completed the MSCP program are kindergarten teacher Lisa Bergin, first grade teacher Evelyn Terry and third grade teacher Rebecca Lindsay. According to Molly Huffman, head of school at TCS, "Having our own cohort of teachers work through the program together offers benefits beyond the coursework. They are engaging in conversations with each other and with our other teachers about how the methodologies they are learning integrate into our curriculum. In addition, our teachers then have conversations with their students about mathematical thinking that extend the students' learning and understanding of mathematical concepts."
SDSU is one of only two universities in California to offer the MSCP, with support and faculty expertise coming from both their mathematics department and their department of teacher education. Research shows that teacher participants in the program have shown significant increases in their knowledge of mathematics content and mathematics pedagogy. In addition, schools with large numbers of program participants have shown higher gains in mathematics achievement than other schools. Funding for the MSCP comes from Qualcomm and Mission Federal Credit Union.
The Children's School understands just how much math counts in today's world. In addition to the three teachers completing the math specialist program, all math teachers from prekindergarten through eighth grade are participating in ongoing mathematics professional development provided by SDSU that will continue through next year. Through this training, teachers learn more about Cognitive Guided Instruction, the research-based methodology for teaching mathematics that is the cornerstone of the MSCP program. The cutting-edge strategies that these teachers are learning and using in their classrooms promote the deep mathematical understanding and conceptual thinking that prepares students for the 21st century.
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ABOUT THE CHILDREN'S SCHOOL
The Children's School, an independent school located in La Jolla, California, inspires children from toddlers through grade six with a rich academic and unique social curriculum. The Children's School will be expanding through seventh grade in 2009 and eighth grade in 2010. The Children's School is accredited by the California Association of Independent Schools and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools and the National Association for the Education of Young Children. |
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CONTACT
The Children's School
Tamara Black
Director of Communications
2225 Torrey Pines Lane
La Jolla, CA 92037
(858) 454-0184
tblack@tcslj.org
Visit the TCS website
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L to r: Rebecca Lindsay, third grade teacher, Lisa Bergin, kindergarten teacher, Evelyn Terry, first grade teacher, and Molly Huffman, head of school
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