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Spring 2014
The Torch
15
Teaching for Understanding
Havergal’s overall focus on teaching for understanding in all
subject areas sees students acquiring knowledge and core skills
and making meaning for themselves so that they can transfer
knowledge and understanding in new situations.
The inquiry-based learning model lends itself to the study of
all STEM fields as it involves asking questions about the world,
solving problems, using creativity, collaborating, thinking
outside the box and having a desire to help people and to make
a difference. Teachers are incorporating creative and authentic
learning experiences that integrate STEM with core competencies.
In any class, there will be groups of students who are really
interested in science and math. Erin Murphy’s Grade 4 class is
no different—these girls love hands-on exploring and solving
challenging puzzles. One of her students placed 11th in Canada
in the Caribou Math Competition held earlier this year. Another
Grade 4 student ranked in the top 50 (out of 2,300 Grade 3 and
4 participants) and three Grade 6 students (out of 3,400 Grade 5
and 6 participants) ranked in the top 100.
“The goal is to get the girls connected and interested
in these subjects so that they can make meaning for
themselves,” Erin says. “I don’t want girls to see
any boundaries. I want them to leave the Junior
School as curious thinkers who are inspired to
explore the world.”
The Upper School offers a broad range of
choices, allowing students to take courses
in the humanities and math and science.
“Students enrolling in mathematics, when
it is not compulsory, indicates an interest
or value for the subject as well as the
confidence to be successful. Data from the
past 10 years reveals that, on average, 88
percent of our graduating class complete
at least one Grade 12 elective course in
mathematics, which is significantly higher than students enrolled
at other schools,” says Seonaid Davis, Director of Curriculum
& Faculty Development. In recent years, for Grade 11 elective
courses, about 80 percent of Havergal students take Biology,
80 percent take Chemistry and 60 percent take Physics. In
addition, when students graduate from Havergal, approximately
40 percent of them go on to study a STEM field in university.
x
y
STE
By Young Um, Director of Communications
continued...
of Learning