Mount Union College Applauds FOCUS
Visitors at Te Tsu Geh Oweenge Day School don't blend in, especially when they are from Ohio (Isn't that on the other side of the world?)! When surprise guests arrived on May 10th, the staff, students, and FOCUS Math Consultant Debbie Scruggs greeted them eagerly. "Mount Union College (Alliance, Ohio) and Tesuque Pueblo have had a partnership for nine years," said Dr. Linda C. Burkey, Chair of the Education Department.
The visitors observed the students in action. 4th-6th grade teacher Anna Dorame, and Scruggs were co-teaching a math lesson with the intermediate students exploring volume of various sized boxes. Dr. Burkey observed the lesson, then motioned for Scruggs to come to her. "I have seen more problem solving and math thinking in the last 15 minutes than I have ever seen in hour-long sessions! The students are enjoying, using and learning math. They are encouraged and expected to think hard about math and communicate their thinking. They are not allowed to give up. Rather, they have to 'think through' the process and then validate the product." FOCUS is making a difference in this school!