Bozeman teachers go back to school to learn new math, hot science

By GAIL SCHONTZLER Chronicle Staff Writer

First- and second-grade kids can get more practice in math by playing math games than by filling out sheets of paper with math facts, a teacher trainer told a classroom full of 30 Bozeman teachers Thursday.

Barbara Marty, a retired teacher from Washington, proved her point by handing teachers a deck of numbered cards and having them play games, similar to the children's card game War.

About 200 Bozeman teachers went back to school a few days early Thursday and Friday to learn new and more effective ways to teach science, math, reading and writing, as well as subjects like how to deal with bullies.

“This is a huge undertaking for the district,” said Marilyn King, assistant superintendent for instruction.

Thirty courses were offered, more than usual in the week before classes begin. That's largely because the Bozeman School District is launching a major overhaul of its math instruction that will affect every grade.

“We want teachers to feel prepared and comfortable so they provide excellent instruction for students,” King said.

Bozeman teachers have the option of taking two days of training before school starts, or during the two-day Montana Education Association convention in October, said Robin Arnold, curriculum director.

Thirty teachers met for six hours in a Chief Joseph Middle School classroom with Marty, a consultant with McGraw Hill, to get an introduction to the new Everyday Mathematics textbooks and curriculum.

“This is not fuzzy math,” Marty said. “It's rigorous math.”

The program was developed over 20 years at the University of Chicago, which has done extensive research on the best ways to teach math, she said. It includes lots of hands-on materials kids can manipulate, as well as student journals, math reference books and lesson guides for teachers.

“I'm thrilled,” said Holly Janssen, a first-grade teacher from Morning Star School.

The new math curriculum will help children connect to how math is used in real life, which teachers have been trying to do. But now, she said, “It's written out for us -- we're not trying to reinvent the wheel.”

Leora Pittenger, who will be teaching second grade this year at Emily Dickinson School after many years of teaching first grade, said she was glad to get the training.

“It's a great help,” she said.

Meanwhile, in another classroom, 11 science teachers spent the morning listening to Monica Brelsford explain “hot science.”

That refers to the amazing things scientists at Montana State University's Thermal Biology Institute have been learning about organisms that thrive in the extreme heat and acid environment of Yellowstone National Park's hot pots.

Brelsford, the institute's education outreach coordinator, explained new findings and showed a student-made film about MSU's Yellowstone research that can be used in classrooms. The film showed scientists backpacking into the park through the snow to collect samples and talking passionately about their work.

Scott Taylor, who teachers advanced placement biology and anatomy at Bozeman High, said this was the best teacher training he'd attended.

“The most important thing for us is it keeps us fresh, it keeps us on top of the latest information out there,” Taylor said. “This stuff is fascinating. Š It's our job to make this interesting (to students). Our job is to train the next generation of scientists.”

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