OXNARD : 2nd-Grade Teacher a State Finalist in Presidential Awards

An Oxnard elementary school teacher has been selected a state finalist in the 1992 Presidential Awards for Excellence, an award that recognizes achievement in science and mathematics.

Hapeman has taught in the Oxnard School District for 12 years, the past two at Juanita School, and has increasingly utilized a new approach to teaching mathematics, moving away from rote memorization to applying problem-solving techniques to real-world problems.

“The emphasis has changed from drill and practice to teaching conceptual development,” said Juanita Principal Anthony Zubia.

Hapeman often uses common objects such as building blocks and measuring cups as teaching aids.

“It works,” she said. “Using ‘fraction circles’ for two weeks with my kids, they understood adding, subtraction and ‘unlike fractions’ in a way that would have previously taken them much longer.”

In the past, she said, young students only learned arithmetic, just one of eight areas in mathematics needed to solve most problems. The others include statistics, probability, geometry and logic, she said.

But with the new approach, children learn the idea behind each area, Hapeman said. “Now the kids are getting the whole picture,” she said.

And children are more interested in the new method of learning, she said.

“They love it,” Hapeman said. “They think that we’re playing.”

Five years ago, Hapeman received a grant from the California Educational Initiatives Foundation to implement a family math program at her school. Two years ago, she was selected to help develop early childhood math and science courses by the National Science Foundation. She continues to participate in that program.

More recently, Hapeman was asked to join the California Math Framework Staff Development Conference. She will assist in the training of educators in a five-county area. She is also serving her third term as an Oxnard school district math mentor.

Zubia, her principal, praises the new approach to teaching mathematics.

“This makes much better sense,” Zubia said. “Now the big problem is to get parents to understand it.”