Students throughout Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) are catching all the equations during EIPS' annual Week of Inspirational Math. From March 9-13, schools across the Division are hosting daily math activities, games and hands-on learning exercises to promote a growth-mindset that gets students excited about math. While activities vary, depending on grade and school, all promote the idea that becoming successful in math is fun, engaging and achievable for everyone.
Elk Island Public Schools students are catching mathematics lessons with fun and engaging activities during this year's Week of Inspirational Math from March 9-13.
"The Week of Inspirational Math is one of the ways we try to promote numeracy literacy throughout the Division," says Colleen Holowaychuk, the Board Chair of EIPS. "Our teachers and staff do such a great job of finding ways to make learning fun and engaging, and at the end of the day, making sure one very important message is heard by all students -- math is for everyone."
This year's theme is Pokémon, which promises to bring exciting adventures to help engage students in improving their mathematical knowledge. Each school has received a Pokémon-inspired version of their mascot, which teachers can use to promote math skills aligned with their specific curriculum. Each day through the week, students are tasked with catching their school Pokémon and solving the accompanying math task.
"This year's Week of Inspirational brings a sense of adventure and excitement to our classrooms as students level up' their math skills through a playful Pokémon theme," says Tara Hanasyk, an Instructional Support Consultant at EIPS. "We want to nurture an environment where students can have fun while learning critical and collaborative learning skills. Ultimately, we want to ensure every leaner feels capable, valued and empowered to think mathematically."
The Week of Inspirational Math is an annual event inspired by the work of Jo Boaler, a Stanford University professor and expert in math education. Boaler is a champion of the growth-mindset, an integral part of the Week of Inspirational Math. Rather than focusing on whether the answer is right or wrong, the growth-mindset promotes the idea the most important part of numeracy acquisition is the ability to learn from your mistakes, push forward and challenge yourself to reach greater heights as a learner.
