SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 83 (NORTH OKANAGAN-SHUSWAP)
SD83 Teachers Pilot Math Programs

SD83 has a group of educators participating in two pilot projects looking at possible math resources for School District classrooms.

Director of Instruction Jennifer Findlay explains that it is practice in SD83 to reach out to teachers interested in piloting a resource or program before decisions are made about District-supported resources. The pilot teachers will meet several times throughout the year to share their experiences with the resources, ask questions, learn from one another, and provide feedback. Areas of focus during a pilot program can include:

• Effectiveness Evaluation: Piloting helps teachers assess whether a new resource improves student learning, engagement, or performance. It gives them firsthand experience with how well the resource fits their teaching style and students' needs.
• Identify Strengths and Weaknesses: By testing a resource in a real classroom, teachers can discover what works well and what doesn't. This allows them to fine-tune the use of the resource before fully implementing it.
• Curriculum Alignment: Piloting helps determine if the resource aligns with the curriculum standards and objectives the teacher must meet.
• Student Engagement: Teachers want to see how students interact with the resource. Does it engage them? Is it user-friendly? A pilot can provide insights into student responses and motivation.
• Feedback for Improvement: Teachers can gather feedback from both students and other educators to refine or adapt the resource, making it more effective.
• Cost and Time Efficiency: Before committing to a new, potentially expensive resource or investing a lot of time into its full implementation, teachers pilot it to ensure it's worth the investment.
• Professional Development: Piloting new resources keeps teachers updated on the latest educational tools and trends, helping them grow professionally.

There are 19 educators participating in the Mathology Pilot, which is in its second year. These pilots are running at Len Wood Middle, Ranchero, M.V. Beattie, and Grindrod. The teachers are using and evaluating this numeracy resource.

Mathology resources are:

• Curriculum-aligned and designed to save teachers planning time.
• Supportive of teachers as they gain a deeper understanding of student thinking through a wealth of ongoing assessment opportunities that help determine the next best steps.
• Designed to develop student curiosity through engaging math stories and activities that help them enjoy a positive math journey.
• Inclusive of lessons and stories reflecting multiple perspectives, including Indigenous perspectives.
• Available in both print and digital formats, reflecting how teachers plan and deliver lessons while providing concrete and engaging materials for students.

K to 8 MathUP Pilot January 2025

A group of 27 teachers are also piloting the MathUP Classroom BC resources, which is for Kindergarten to Grade 8, and is fully aligned to the BC Curricular Competencies and Math Curriculum. In SD83, there are seven school teams participating in the MathUP Pilot (Armstrong Elementary School, Bastion, Carlin, Hillcrest, Highland Park Elementary, Shuswap Middle School and Sorrento). Findlay explains 23 teachers are piloting the English version of MathUP and four French Immersion teachers are piloting the French version, which is awesome!