BU professor co-authors, co-edits math books for students in Dominican Republic
Nov 07, 2007
Nov. 7, 2007
Contact: Sara Lotfy
305-899-3188
Barry University professor co-authors, co-edits math books for use by third, fourth graders in Dominican Republic
Miami Shores, Fla. – Barry University Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science Dr. Eduardo Luna has co-authored and edited two mathematic text books that will be used by all third and fourth graders in the Dominican Republic.
The books were created through research Luna conducted during the 06-07 academic school year. Luna worked with a group of 219 third and fourth grade teachers in urban and rural public schools and their students (8500), where several interventions took place.
The interventions included an initial teacher training program that included 100 hours of training, the development of a set of teaching materials for students in those grades, the preparation of guides for teachers to use the student teaching materials, a teachers’ support program that included two visits per month to each teacher in their classrooms, and periodic meetings to introduce new teaching materials and reinforce the proposed teaching strategy.
The books were sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development Grant, and the grant recipient; Pontifical Catholic University Madre y Masestra, where Dr. Luna was a professor. The grant’s intent is to improve the teaching and learning of mathematics in elementary school students through a comprehensive training of teachers through the first four grades of elementary school.
The grant will also increase the involvement of the community in school activities associated with the teaching and learning of mathematics and reading-writing skills.
The book entitled “Explora la Matematica: Grade 3” was published by Amigo del Hogar, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on Oct. 12, 2007, and his second book to follow “Explora la Matematica: Grade 4” is currently in press.
“My final goal for this project is to provide the Ministry of Education in the Dominican Republic with teaching materials,” Luna said. I would like to see a teacher training strategy in place for the teaching and learning of mathematics and reading-writing skills that could be extended to the entire school system for grades one through four.”
For more information, contact BU’s Luna at 305-899-3638.
The books were created through research Luna conducted during the 06-07 academic school year. Luna worked with a group of 219 third and fourth grade teachers in urban and rural public schools and their students (8500), where several interventions took place.
The interventions included an initial teacher training program that included 100 hours of training, the development of a set of teaching materials for students in those grades, the preparation of guides for teachers to use the student teaching materials, a teachers’ support program that included two visits per month to each teacher in their classrooms, and periodic meetings to introduce new teaching materials and reinforce the proposed teaching strategy.
The books were sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development Grant, and the grant recipient; Pontifical Catholic University Madre y Masestra, where Dr. Luna was a professor. The grant’s intent is to improve the teaching and learning of mathematics in elementary school students through a comprehensive training of teachers through the first four grades of elementary school.
The grant will also increase the involvement of the community in school activities associated with the teaching and learning of mathematics and reading-writing skills.
The book entitled “Explora la Matematica: Grade 3” was published by Amigo del Hogar, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on Oct. 12, 2007, and his second book to follow “Explora la Matematica: Grade 4” is currently in press.
“My final goal for this project is to provide the Ministry of Education in the Dominican Republic with teaching materials,” Luna said. I would like to see a teacher training strategy in place for the teaching and learning of mathematics and reading-writing skills that could be extended to the entire school system for grades one through four.”
For more information, contact BU’s Luna at 305-899-3638.
