Fort Valley State University

Fort Valley State University education majors will learn an innovative way to boost mathematics and critical thinking skills, and they’ll have state-of-the-art technology to help in the process. A grant from the U.S. Department of Education called “Enhancing a Teacher Preparation Program” was awarded to the university’s College of Education. Dr. Judy Carter, dean of the College of Education, and the department submitted a proposal to obtain the money. The congressionally-funded grant of $167,030 will be used to upgrade the college’s Curriculum Materials Center, classrooms, science and mathematics laboratories, and implement the Singapore Math Method.
The Singapore Math Method is a traditional technique used in many Asian countries to teach students math and critical thinking skills. Students use word problems to solve math equations instead of repetitive drilling and memorization typically taught in American classrooms. According to Carter, the department implemented the method after witnessing its results. “Some of our students participated in a couple of Singapore Math Method workshops last semester,” said Carter. “When they took their Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE) test, which replaced PRAXIS, many did very well in math partly because of the methods they learned from these workshops. The excellent instruction from their math teachers was the other reason they did well. We thought that if it helped our students in this way, we would expand the concept. All of our students who have math concentrations will be involved in the training.”
FVSU education majors who are pre-service teachers, as well as in-service, certified teachers will learn how to implement the method in classrooms through instruction and an intensive, week-long workshop. In-service teachers from Twiggs, Peach, Crawford, Macon, Monroe, Taylor and Crisp counties are also invited to participate in the training to increase student achievement in math for grades 4 through 8.