As part of the 4-year plan to Ontario’s math curriculum proposed in July 2020, another further revision specifically for Ontario’s Grade 9 math was announced by Education Minister Stephen Lecce. Effective fall 2021, the new Ontario’s Grade 9 math curriculum will cover more areas of mathematics to set students up for math success.
Grade 9 Math Curriculum – New Focus
Similar to the changes in the 2020 math curriculum, the new curriculum will involve more real-life applications of math and include lessons on coding, data, financial literacy, mathematical modelling, and other elements of STEM. In addition, the new math curriculum will eliminate the controversial practice of “streaming”. Students were previously streamed into “academic” and “applied” math courses in Grade 9, in which many believed discriminated against students from marginalized communities. Studies also showed that streaming has disproportionately affected Black and low-income students when it comes to graduation rate and the chance of going to a post-secondary institution. Currently, Ontario is the only province in Canada where streaming is still common in public schools. The “modernized” curriculum is thought to help with easing the situation.
Training Courses for Teachers
Ontario’s government is planning to provide $40 million in funding to train educators on the new math course, including anti-racism and anti-discrimination training. However, educators and teachers are not required to complete the training over the summer before school starts in September. Harvey Bischof, the president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation criticized the timing of the announcement, and said the announcement lacked proper implementation plans and support. Other critics such as Marit Stiles also believed that the new math course takes time, and said students will need smaller class sizes and one-on-one learning opportunities to succeed.
While it is still unclear as of what will be covered in the training courses, and how Grade 9 students will react to the new math course, specialized and well-trained math tutors can assist with closing the learning gaps in math.
Need math help Mississauga contact Math Project. We regularly provides our teachers with professional development training to tailor lessons that match our students’ learning styles, Math Project’s math tutoring programs in Mississauga, Brampton and Oakville aim to boost students’ confidence, and enable them to perform well in school and beyond. Contact us today at 1-844-628-4243 to book a free assessment! For more information on math education news, subscribe to our monthly newsletter below.
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Citations:
Ontario education minister reveals details of new Grade 9 math curriculum – https://www.cbc.ca/
Ontario removes streaming in new Grade 9 math curriculum. Here’s what will change – https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/
Here’s What Ontario’s Grade 9 Math Course Looks Like & It’s What You Wish You Had Learned – https://www.narcity.com/
Ontario unveils new Grade 9 math curriculum that eliminates streaming – https://www.thestar.com/
