Alternative way of teaching maths increasingly
popular in Czech schools
A If you ask Czech kids what
is their most hated subject at school, the answer is nearly always the same:
mathematics. This may soon change, however, with more and more schools pushing
an alternative way of teaching mathematics, the so-called Hejný method. It has
now been adopted by more than 350 schools around the country and for the first
time this year, it will also be tested in grades five to nine.
B While Czech students show
only average results in mathematics in international competitions, the
number of those who dislike the subject is overwhelming.
In an attempt to address the problem, an increasing number of Czech teachers
are switching to the Hejný method, which allows children to discover math on
their own, instead of memorizing formulas. They claim that children who
are being taught the alternative way are showing very good results.
C The method was founded in
the late 1980s by mathematician Milan Hejný, who was unhappy with the way the
subject was taught at schools. Along with a group of colleagues he developed a
new teaching method that would allow children to enjoy the process of learning.
The system is aimed at constructing a network of mental mathematical schemes,
which are formed by each student individually.
D But how exactly does this
work in practice? I asked Megan Fraley, who has been using the method with
four-graders in the town of Jesenice: “We
try to use different kinds of materials, if we are learning for example to
calculate the size of an area, we have little cubes that students can use, to measure
and count, and then try to multiply them to get the answer. If we are doing
shapes, we might use pretzels, for
instance, to help them figure out angles and directions. It means using a lot
of visual and concrete objects to help them work out the problems.”
E Some
teachers refuse to adopt the method because it requires a radical change of
approach on their side. Instead of telling children how things work, they have
to let them solve things on their own and try to interfere as little as
possible. Megan Fraley again: “The
teacher is really just supposed to facilitate the learning process and
oversee the students but without actually getting too involved, to try to let
them figure it out by themselves or working in groups as well, that is another
method, and to help them get the answer, to help with the steps in order for
them to reach the conclusion on their own.”
Adjusted
to (1)
overwhelm – převládat
pretzels – preclík
1) Read the
article and match each of the headings to a paragraph.
1 Hejný
method is successful
2 Usage of
the method in practice
3 Foundation
of the method
4 The role
of the teacher
5
Introduction
2) Read the
article and answer the questions.
1 What is
the attitude of Czech students towards mathematics like?
2 Who is
Milan Hejný?
3 Why did he
invent the method?
4 Why is
this method more and more popular?
5 How is it
used in practice? What are the difficulties?
3) Explain
the following words and phrases.
1 average
results
2 memorizing
formulas
3 alternative
way
4 measure and count
5 facilitate the learning process
4) Answer
the following questions.
Why is mathematics
unpopular? Should mathematics be a compulsory component of Maturita
examination? Why? What should be the most important principles in mathematics
teaching? What tools are nowadays used in education of mathematics? How do
children learn math in preschool? How to teach mathematics creatively?
Video:
Tips, sources of information:
Source:
(1)
FRAŇKOVÁ,
Ruth. Alternative way of teaching maths increasingly popular in Czech
schools. Český rozhlas [online]. 2014 [cit. 2015-09-21]. Available
at:
http://radio.cz/en/section/curraffrs/alternative-way-of-teaching-maths-increasingly-popular-in-
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