St. Patrick’s Catholic School Principal Eddie Diaz added to the excitement of Saturday’s Dia De Los Nino’s (Day of the Children) Festival in the school gym with a major announcement: The school will receive funding to implement an advanced mathematics program for the next school year.
The festival Saturday was given a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) theme, a focus for students this year. Interactive displays from Tyson Fresh Meats, Drake University, Iowa State University and the Iowa Farm Bureau helped students experience learning in a hands-on fashion.
The 2017-18 school year will see grades 4-8 studying in the Power Teaching Math (PTM) Program, originally created and tested by researchers at Johns Hopkins University. The well-regarded university is considered a national leader in cooperative learning techniques for mathematics instruction, with a focus on engaging every student.
Funding for PTM will come from the Iowa Governor’s STEM Council. St. Patrick’s has been working steadily in coordination with the STEM Council, which has led to a variety of learning experiences for the student body. On April 4 nearly 170 students and parents visited the Science Center of Iowa. Admission, transportation and a meals were all provided by STEM Council funding.
PTM will provide teachers with classroom tools that will enhance mathematics instruction and facilitate professional growth. The program will help students become confident and successful in mathematics and will prepare them for high school math.
In addition to curriculum materials teachers will receive coaching services and will have paid fare to a national conference on teaching mathematics.
STEM Scale-Up programs (such as PTM) have undergone rigorous national and state-level testing before being introduced into classrooms. They have been shown to increase student interest and achievement in STEM courses across all demographics.
St. Patrick’s Catholic School is also in the beginning stages of organizing a summer STEM camp. Diaz indicated he would continue to work with Dr. Sarah Derry, South Central Regional Hub Manager on the STEM Council, who has helped with funding and implementation.
