The Importance of Mathematics in School and in Life

Teaching of mathematics goes far beyond the subject matter itself. Mathematics is not just a set of calculation formulas, but a culture that requires a huge amount of training. We need to understand, imagine and invent increasingly complex concepts for the world of tomorrow. Mathematics plays a major role in developing our capacity for abstraction. A solid background is essential and it supports our intellectual development. Mathematics is also a subject that fosters critical thinking.

In addition, mathematics fosters academic and professional integration.

When taught effectively, mathematics is neither too difficult nor too easy. Teachers at École Bilingue Chardin are trained in the best international methods so that children acquire knowledge and skills to ensure a smooth transition to secondary school.

Building a challenging and positive approach to mathematics

One of the objectives of École Bilingue Chardin Preschool and Elementary, is to build a positive, supportive yet challenging approach to mathematics for each student. This approach to mathematics in nursery and primary school leads to a virtuous circle that will have a positive impact on science instruction in the future. For example, mistakes in mathematics that are often considered a failure, can be used as a necessary process in solving a problem, as part of an investigative and reflective approach. This is what we strive to build at École Bilingue Chardin.

A cutting-edge mathematics programme in addition to the standard curriculum

The mathematics program at École Bilingue Chardin covers more than just the standard syllabus required by the French Ministry of Education, that is often described as too basic. The curriculum has been designed according to neuroscientific principles and teaching methods that have been proven to be effective in mathematics instruction in France and other countries. Here is a presentation of a few basic principles implemented in our tailored programs for each grade at École Bilingue Chardin at École Bilingue Chardin:

• The C-P-A Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract method is implemented systematically, particularly through the use of mathematical objects, to foster abstraction development necessary for a very successful introduction to algebra.
• Verbalization is promoted from early childhood.
• Automatic skill acquisition (JUMP method, Kumon method) is developed
• Mathematical modelling and problem-solving are taught systematically and methodically, and are applied to science and algorithms at a later stage.