SCHOOLS IN the Corporate Area are set to benefit from a series of workshops for teachers, courtesy of Hillel Academy in St Andrew. These will be conducted by Dr Erin Furtak from the University of Colorado and the first, which is complimentary, is aimed at improving curriculum writing in mathematics and science.

It will take place tomorrow, Wednesday, May 13, at Hillel Academy, starting at 4 p.m.

Teachers from the American International School, Kingston, Campion College, Hillel Academy, Immaculate Conception, St Andrew High, St George's College, St Jago High and Wolmer's Boys' and Wolmer's Girls' schools are expected to attend.

Support and inspiration

The workshop is expected to offer support and inspiration to teachers seeking to improve their skills in teaching and interacting with students.

Dr Furtak will return to Jamaica in August to lead workshops on differentiative instruction.

Peggy Bleyberg, Hillel's director, explained the idea behind the first workshop: "Hillel is eager to contribute its skills to better the education of all Jamaican children, not just our students. What better place to start than with teachers who share our goals?"

Furtak's background

Dr Furtak is assistant professor of education specialising in science at the University of Colorado and the author of Formative Assess-ment for Secondary Science Teachers. After studying at Stanford University, Dr Furtak received a fellowship at the competitive Max Planck Institute in Berlin, Germany, where she studied new brain research on learning in the areas of science and math.

In February, Dr Furtak visited Hillel and hosted workshops for the school's teachers, focusing on assessment skills and curriculum writing. Lesley Peryer of grade four said, "The seminar was both interesting and informative. It was presented in a simple and fun way. I left the seminar energised and motivated to try something new."

If you would like more information regarding these workshops, please contactPeggy Bleyberg,