Making space for mathematical thinking
Why are many people afraid of mathematics? There is an image of mathematics – as something very abstract, full of rules and symbols to be learnt. Learning this was dreary and challenging. True; if we accept that image of mathematics.
Mathematics is abstract and its processes can be understood in terms of rules and it does use symbols to make its job easier. But mathematics did not begin that way. It came from our lives; from the many puzzles we faced in real life situations, from the need to do and make things. At school we saw mathematics as a ready-made thing and things went too fast. We could not make connections and we developed a fear of mathematics. If we teach with the same image of mathematics, as something abstract that needs to be explained, then things would indeed be difficult.
But there is also the possibility of looking at mathematics as something which emerges from reflecting on very concrete experiences.
What is important is that the child is actively participating in an activity with a purpose which is motivating for the child. She is trying to solve a problem, achieve a goal, using means which makes sense to her.
Our Approach in Mathematics
Jodo Gyan has developed innovative methods and materials for developing Number Sense, for developing understanding of fractions and decimals, integers and other mathematical concepts and reasoning. At the early stage, the core focus is on the development of Number Sense. In this approach, the connection of the number with quantity is kept alive. This helps to connect to the lived experiences and intuitions of the child. This quantity aspect of Number Sense has been seen to be powerful even in the learning of fractions and algebra in later stages.
This quantity sense is developed through a strong focus on counting and then structured counting which follows the natural and flexible ways of mental addition and subtractions. It involves the use of the empty number line as a very powerful tool to support thinking and reasoning about numbers.
Our work has gained appreciation at multiple levels over the years. Experience over the last decade involving thousands of children has demonstrated that these methods are effective in developing mathematical abilities of reasoning and problem solving. Children learning through this approach feel very comfortable and confident about mathematics, thus eliminating the fear of mathematics.
Spreading Our Approach Further
Jodo Gyan sees itself as a part of the on-going effort in our country to make education meaningful for our children in both government and private schools. Jodo Gyan has been reaching out to teachers, teacher educators, schools, education functionaries and other educational organizations through workshops and fairs across the country to share its learning, experience and pedagogic insights about teaching mathematics using activity-based approach.
We are specifically working with different State Government Schools, Kendriya Vidyalayas, Army schools and Private schools spanning CBSE, ICSE, IGCSE, IB and State Boards. We have also worked with NCERT, SCERTs, DIETs, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and higher education institutions such as Delhi University and Jamia Milia Islamia University.
