Math Teachers Pair up in Teams

Schools are boosting math scores by pairing math teachers into teams so they can teach more effectively and learn instructional techniques from each other.

At Granby High School in Norfolk, VA, for example, the pairing of teachers has been shown to be effective in ensuring that students understand the material. According to a report from the WestEd Group, math teachers at Granby are more successful when they work in groups. “Granby High School offers a prime example of a school with a powerful approach to professional development that provides teachers with opportunities for ongoing learning where they can develop and maintain skills and content knowledge,” the report says.

When teaches work together in teams, they discuss the specific needs of each student and develop extra support for students. These teams also provide teachers, specifically new mathematics teachers, with a support system that makes them feel comfortable and valued.

And all of this has worked: math test scores have significantly increased at Granby since the school began pairing up their teachers. More students are taking advanced math courses like Calculus and Algebra II than ever before and the pass rates for Algebra I and II increased dramatically to 84 percent and 90 percent, respectively,” the WestEd Group says.

Would you be willing to teach a subject in a team with other instructors? For teachers that have done so in the past, please share your experiences.

--Jazzy Wright