Professor Mahesh Sharma has returned to our school district and been 'in the house' here at WHS all this week. Dr. Sharma spent time with us last spring and a full week training teachers in late July. Now he is back in town to share direct applications of his teachings, and facilitate our implementation of his mathematics instruction strategies. 'Mahesh' (as we know him) is pulling together grade level teachers from across our school district to meet at WHS and enjoy some direct instruction and opportunities for practice teaching of our mathematics curriculum 'non-negotiables' (the essentials of what must be taught and learned by every student at a particular grade level). Mahesh is also modelling instruction as he demonstrates lessons with classes here at WHS. He has been concluding each training session with a debriefing meeting in which teachers discuss what they observed during Mahesh's lesson and what they can take away to use in their own teaching.
This experience has been very powerful and a real 'game-changer' in terms of how we teach math in the Laconia School District. Ask you student about what they are learning about math with Cuisenaire rods, unifix cubes, and visual cluster cards. Our students are building a solid understanding of mathematical concepts that will support their learning significantly over the time ahead.
Professor Sharma's next visit to Laconia will be in late October. As part of that program, Mahesh will offer an opportunity for parents to meet with him and learn more about his approach to mathematics instruction. He will likely improve your understanding of mathematical concepts, and will share ways in which you can help to build mathematical intelligence and ability in your child(ren). The meeting will be held at the Laconia Middle School on the evening of Thursday, November 3rd, from 6:00-7:30pm. We hope that you will be able to join us for this evening which will be enlightening for parents, and provide them with skills to help their children become even better math students.
