Delta-K Volume 33 Issue 2

Journal of the Mathematics Council of the Alberta Teachers’ Association

Volume 33 Issue 2, June 1996

The Western Canada Protocol, under the leadership of Alberta, is developing a common core mathematics program for British Columbia.Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories. The Grades K-9 curriculum is already established, and the Grades 10-12 program will be in place before the end of this school year. This should allow easier transfer of students throughout western Canada. Publishers should be able to prepare materials for a larger market.

As I see it, the biggest challenge to the success of the new curriculum will be a shortage of qualified teachers. Significantly more emphasis is placed on such areas as statistics and probability, estimation, mental mathematics, the use of technology, and manipulatives. Currently, many mathematics teachers have little or no training beyond high school in either area of content or methods.

If the new curriculum is to be effectively implemented, teachers are going to have to be provided with extensive inservice sessions in mathematics. Postsecondary institutions, Alberta Education, school boards and the ATA are going to have to share responsibility for this training. Teachers, as individuals, must not only pressure for these inservice programs but also attend them. Costs will have to be a shared responsibility.

The new mathematics program should be exciting to teach and should develop in students a genuine enthusiasm for mathematics.

Arthur Jorgensen

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Front Matter

EDITORIAL

Arthur Jorgensen

FROM YOUR COUNCIL

George Ditto

President’s Report 1994-95

Wendy Richards

The Right Angle

Kay Melville