The mathematics workshop targeted the areas of fractions, ratio and proportional reasoning for the grades 4 to 6 teachers, and was facilitated by Mr. James Halliday. However, the spelling workshop, which was facilitated by Mrs. Pandora Coverley and Mrs. Avril Elliott targeted the areas of a systematic way of spelling and the various approaches to the teaching of spelling for the Kindergarten to Grade 3 teachers.

Speaking to the Government Information Service, Education Officer, Mrs. Coverley noted that the workshop was born out of the realization that there was a problem in certain areas and that they are trying to work on it. She said, “A systematic spelling programme will be implemented in the classroom from Monday 12th as well as an alternative word list which should be able to teach all the children in the classroom whether they are average, below average or above average.”

“They’ll be able to be better in the classroom and to see that our children progress the way they should. The teachers also made several aids, charts and hands on manipulatives for the children to use in the classroom to help them to learn the skills that will be taught.”

According to Mrs. Coverley, the workshop brought out the best in the teachers. “The teachers have cooperated, they have also helped one another and I think the spirit that has been generated here, I am hoping that it will carry on throughout the rest of the school year, and that we will be able to work with grades 4 to 6 in the near future,” she added.

Language Arts Coordinator at the Ministry of Education, Mrs. Avril Elliott said that the spelling workshop was a follow up to a previous writing workshop, and added that the theme for the workshop was ‘Spelling as an Aid to Writing’. She said that she found the teachers very enthusiastic and commented, “I must say if this enthusiasm is indicative of their dedication and commitment to the teaching profession, I think I can safely say that education in Nevis is really in safe and competitive hands.”

Some of the objectives of the spelling workshop were to provide the teachers with strategies for the teaching of spelling, expose them to specific spelling programmes, sensitise them to various approaches to the teaching of spelling, familiarize them with useful spelling terminology and allow them to confidently utilise a systematic spelling programme as a classroom tool.

Education Planner, Dr. Bronte Gonsalves pointed out that the workshop was not planned but based on the analysis of the performances of previous students on the test of standards and an evaluation of the methodologies in the classroom and the availability of facilitators. She commented, “It was timely we have these workshops at this time…. I look forward to seeing the interest, the enthusiasm demonstrated by these teachers transform into the classroom and an analysis of the test of standards this year will reveal the effectiveness of these workshops.”

The mathematics workshop, which targeted the secondary and primary school teachers, was also a success, and from the objectives, the facilitator noted that an overview of the worksheets would be done to formalize a general concept to be used at the schools.

Some of the objectives were to develop a set of worksheets that can be used as teaching materials for both Grades 5 to 8 and Forms I & II, to develop skills in using various methods of teaching proportional reasoning to students, and to learn a set of strategies designed to build the foundation concepts and skills on which proportional reasoning is based. The workshop was organised by the Department of Education.