Approaches to Improved Math Classroom Instruction

Nina Gribetz studied economics at the University of Pennsylvania and earned her master’s of teaching secondary math at Pace University in New York City, New York. Now a math teacher at the Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School in New York City, Nina Gribetz possesses extensive teaching experience having taught math in diverse capacities as a classroom instructor, mentor to fellow math teachers, and consultant. 

Effective math instruction relies on the teacher’s skills and its association with certain instructional characteristics. These instructional characteristics include approaches that get the subject matter across to the students. When these approaches are integrated into the classroom instruction, teachers become more effective in motivating and promoting learning.

1. Engage the students so that they are actively involved in working on the math problems. Teachers should make sure that all students are participating and that no one is sitting back watching others solve the problems. Students can take turns in solving mathematical problems and explaining the solutions to these problems.

2. Get the students to solve challenging mathematical problems. Math stimulates. Math is interesting because it can generate new knowledge. Students should appreciate the excitement math brings, and they should be able to integrate math into the challenges of the real world.

3. Pair the students together because it encourages partnership. According to studies, students tend to achieve more when they work in groups. When they are allowed to think through a problem collaboratively within a group, the likelihood of avoiding a dead end increases.

4. Give the students a variety of options to be able to communicate mathematically. As students are given the chance to communicate their ideas, they may write these concepts in their math journals. Class discussions also provide opportunities for the students to hear others, which can promote understanding as well as respect.

Ballmer Group Gifts More than $10 Million to TFA

A middle school and high school math teacher at New York’s Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School, Nina Gribetz leverages more than 10 years of math experience to create and execute standards-based math curriculum. Dedicated to giving back to her community, Nina Gribetz spent three years serving as a math teacher for Teach for America (TFA).

At the beginning of 2018, TFA, an organization dedicated to developing and supporting a network of classroom leaders in an effort to end educational inequality, announced that it had been given a $10 million grant from the Ballmer Group. This philanthropic organization established by Steve and Connie Ballmer will distribute its grant to TFA over the course of five years. TFA plans to use this money for training, recruiting, and further developing teachers who are committed to ridding every country of educational injustice.

In addition to this large grant from the Ballmer Group, two additional gifts will be made to TFA to support a growing corps member and alumni base in specific regions. TFA’s operations in Washington will receive a $1.5 million grant through 2020 to supports its growth. A matching grant in the amount of $2.25 million was also given to TFA - Los Angeles.