Individual Coaching Program for 60 First-Year Teachers of 5-Unit Mathematics

The past few years have seen a significant investment of resources in order to double the number of 5-unit mathematics students. Recently, efforts are starting to bear fruit, and this year 12,800 twelfth grade students took the 5-unit mathematics matriculation exam. This endeavor requires a quick increase in the number of 5-unit mathematics teachers. To this end, there are a number of processes in operation, including the training of career changers from high-tech, attracting university graduates to study for a teaching diploma, and the professional re-training of experienced teachers who lack sufficient academic background.

In this framework and at the Ministry’s initiative a re-training program was launched last year on a national scale. Operated by six universities across the country, the 3.95 million NIS program trains 180 teachers in a first cohort, with a second cohort planned to open next year. It is dedicated to deepening mathematic knowledge for experienced mathematics teachers who have little to no experience at teaching the five-unit level. It does not, however, include pedagogic mentoring, nor clinical skills that are necessary for the teaching of large and diverse five unit classes.

The foundation has recently approved a grant to Kadima Mada for a complementary program to provide individual coaching for 60 of the program participants. We have now approached the Israel Center for Excellence through Education (ICEE) to create a parallel program to provide an additional 60 teachers with guidance and support over two years. Participants will be selected in collaboration with 2-3 districts of the Ministry of Education.

To this end, the ICEE will recruit experienced teachers and instructors, who will be trained as instructional coaches. These coaches will work on an individual basis over at least two years with the new 5-unit teachers, approximately 10 hours per month per teacher, addressing: how to plan teaching time, how to address common mistakes and misconceptions of students and implementing different teaching methods in order to help respond to the needs of individual students. The coaching will include regular scheduled sessions, lesson observation and feedback.

In addition to the individual coaching, participants will attend a 30-hour professional development course in which they will discuss 11th and 12th grade curriculum material, subjects such as improving students’ motivation to learn, and reviewing shared challenges that arise from work in classrooms. This course will be preceded by a detailed mapping of each teacher’s professional needs.

* The text above shows the grant as approved by the Foundation’s Board of Directors / Grant 219