Canadian education just got a whole lot richer — thanks to Curriculum Services Canada’s (CSC) new website, MyClassNeeds.ca, an online charitable crowdfunding platform where donors fund classroom projects with a click of the mouse.
“Canadian teachers post a project idea on the site and anyone who logs on can donate,” says Michael Simmonds, CSC’s interim executive director. The parameters are broad — teachers can request anything from microscopes the school can’t afford to educational experiences, such as field trips or guest speakers. All the project needs is a demonstrable educational impact (no cash requests) and school approval. Tax receipts are supplied once the donation is made.
Once a project is fully funded, the organization buys and delivers the school goods. If the funding goal is not met within 150 days, donors can either reassign the money, or the original teacher can propose a new project or have MyClassNeeds choose a project on his or her behalf.
The best part? All elementary and secondary schools can participate, regardless of their resource level, Simmonds says. “We’re happy to help Canadian schools reach their fundraising goals and we’re proud to create a connection that allows them to help each other.”
— Randi Chapnik Myers
teachers say they or their schools have a responsibility to alert parents or guardians of students who arrive at school without having eaten breakfast.
of teachers have provided food to students who they thought were hungry.
by Laura Bickle
How can we instill a love of numbers in our students? According to Ed Barbeau, professor emeritus of mathematics at the University of Toronto, the key is play, exploration and a good game of bridge! Read on for more insights from the author of several scholastic math books and former chair of the Education Committee of the Canadian Mathematical Society.
What are your concerns about how math is being taught?
A lot of it is focused on mastering skills. The danger of this is that mathematics amounts to the mechanical application of techniques and formulae, rather than a set of tools that can assist in the analysis of various problems.
People are often left with the impression that mathematics has an authority it does not really possess, and they don’t fully appreciate its strength in clarifying and analyzing situations.
How do we keep up with technology?
Technology has not so much created new issues as sharpened existing ones. While we do not need the same emphasis on paper-and-pencil algorithms, students still need to do enough to gain an understanding of the underlying structure of arithmetic. They also need to realize that every computer algorithm has been programmed by somebody, and that the programmer had to make choices. They should always regard the output with due skepticism and have the mathematical sense to monitor what they see.
What mathematical lesson should every student master?
Pupils should be encouraged to play — looking for number patterns or constructing solid geometric figures. Many games and puzzles require mathematical thinking, such as Reversi (Othello), Hex, Sprouts and tic-tac-toe. I decry the loss of bridge among the young, as it develops many skills also required for math, from the need to adhere to fixed rules to the solution of problems by creative insight.
What is key to teaching math effectively?
Understanding that the student is not a blank slate. Both the teacher and the student come to the scene with their own view of what is being taught. The art of teaching is negotiating these differences so that students will progress.
Also, many teachers do not foster good mathematical hygiene. By this, I mean helping students arrive at a clear idea of what is being discussed, insisting on clear presentation of solutions, having students check their work and giving them the tools to know when something is going wrong.
Any tips to help students appreciate and enjoy math?
The best motivation is to be among adults who enjoy mathematics. Get young people acquainted with authors such as Martin Gardner, Ivars Peterson, Ross Honsberger, Ian Stewart and Sherman Stein. There is also traditional material on the Net; for example the eighth-century monk Alcuin of York’s Problems to Sharpen the Young.
