ALL ROADS LEAD TO HOSANNA!
“A right turn to numeracy”
Eleven members of the Montego Bay Community College Math Club took a trip down onto memory lane, by paying visit to the well-known Hosanna Preparatory School. This club initiative served as an avenue to give back to the local community by means of mathematical reinforcement.
Math anxiety is in truth quite existent in our educational systems. This was the basis upon which The Math Club decided to venture out and tackle this stigmatized subject, by returning to the foundation – primary level education. Members of the club were sub-divided into three groups, after which each group was greatly welcomed into the grades four, five and six classrooms. Each group taught the same topic, namely ‘Fractions’, as it was described by the executive body as being a smooth-sailing fundamental topic. The club members had to therefore take steps down from their usual college mathematics in order to impart their knowledge unto the children. They incorporated lively games to enhance their teaching methods and this surely held the attention of the students.
For the fourth graders, it was like a fresh start, as they had only come into contact with the tip of the “fraction-iceberg” in the previous school year. While on the other end, it was obviously just a walk in the park for the advanced fifth and sixth graders.
Club President, Shammitha Pulikanti mentioned, “Being there in the middle of it all brought back wonderful memories from my prep school days.” She also went on further to describe her fifth grade teaching experience as fun-filled and she hopes to do such a project like this again.
Tremendous pressure is consistently placed on the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) readiness and Hosanna Preparatory School certainly promotes great success in this area. This is due to the conducive environment created for learning provided by the educators. Each student has access to a one-on-one relationship with their teacher, who so skillfully administers the workload unto them. The spacious, well-ventilated classrooms, had creative displays of colourful and informative posters, products of students’ “works of art” (projects) and even streams of popular sayings of wisdom relating to school life along the four walls.
Brittaney Grant, math club member who helped in teaching the sixth graders, mentioned that she was at first a bit skeptical and shy about facing the class. She however overcame such feelings as soon as she realized how entertaining it was to teach such eager children.
Alongside Ms. Grant, Tivoun Wilson (Assistant Secretary), was impressed by the sixth graders enthusiasm, “Seeing how enthusiastic they were, was the highlight of my day. I was really impressed by their level of knowledge.”
All in all, the feedbacks received from the staff advisors and club members on their overall experience, generally consisted of expressions of delight and impressiveness. The purpose of the project was indeed fulfilled, as The Math Club provided their service through mathematical knowledge and ultimately strived to break the barrier of “Math Anxiety”.
Bethany Blake,
Executive Secretary,
M.B.C.C Press Club.