Now that we have been home a week and recovered from jet lag (you are right, it is harder to recover when travelling west), we have had time to reflect on our visit. Discussions to visit Ranvik began last year between us and Linda and Hans Storje. We finally settled on a date that worked for everyone. Unfortunately it also coincided with their first snowfall of the year :) The week started out with Hans Storje and I introducing the students to linear equations by working through "Barbie Bungie". Terje welcomed me into his classroom to do a lesson on equations using Algebra Tiles to his Grade 8s. We also assisted in Linda's class on functions and visited Erik's class on quadratics.
As the week progressed, we continued to work in classrooms and forge relationships with both the students and teachers. We learned many things, including different computer applications for the math class, and engaging math activities. Paul and I were also given the opportunity to speak at the Norway national NORCAN meeting and it was great to see that some of the ideas that we presented were being implemented later in the week such as Vertical Non-Permanent Surfaces, use of manipulatives and Knowledgehook Gameshows. As well, it was great to see our Norweigan partners implementing math councils at all their schools.
We were also letter carriers on this trip, delivering letters from our Grade 8 students to Ranvik students. It was awesome to see the Ranvik students reading their letters and thinking about how they were going to reply. We also took a close look at the structural component of education, including programs in second language, special education, early years learning. In particular, we walked away with a new look at STEM in early years education.
Thanks to Pernille for opening her house to our NORCAN partners and hosting a wonderful dinner. It gave us the opportunity to have some great conversations on our respective educational systems. Thank you to Linda for organizing school visits to other school to further our learning and understanding of the Norweigan educational system. Thanks to Hans Storje for going out of his way to drive us to the train station. Thanks to Terje, Erik and Tina for opening their rooms to us and enhancing our learning experience. Both Paul and I were overwhelmed with the friendliness of the Ranvik staff and students. Staff and students went out of their way to make us feel at home. We were very sorry to leave at the end week as we felt that we were a part of the staff and beginning to get to know the students. We are looking forward to continue our partnership.
Comments
Thank you, Craig!
It was a pleasure to have you at our school. I really liked to learn about the use of concretes, like Algebra Tiles, and even more students learned the concept of equations. I think we have a lot to learn about variation. I have been searching the net for AlgebraTiles, but it seems they are only to be bought in US and Canada. (I was hoping for some cheap chinese ones).
We have become a better NorCan-school. Our whole staff took part this time, and we put math into many subjects.
If we both learn from each other, then nothing can stop us. May the Force be with you.