Making math accessible to all students, integrated co-teaching strategies and active learning were among the topics UFT members explored in workshops offered at this year’s UFT Spring Education Conference.

Sonja Hill, who teaches 7th- and 8th-grade math at PS 41 in Brownsville, Brooklyn, found inspiration in the math workshop led by Robert Gyles, a professor of mathematics education at Hunter College.

“The math workshop was amazing,” said Hill. “It really connects the fact that you have to teach content and procedure, not just teaching the ‘what’ but making the subject engaging for students by using pictures for the visual learner and manipulatives for the tactile learner.”

Edith Svezia, who is the general education teacher in an integrated co-teaching pre-K class at PS/IS 87 in Middle Village, Queens, said she learned valuable information in the workshop on ICT and specially designed instruction, led by Marilyn Friend, a well-known expert in the field.

“It was so clarifying, especially the discussion about the difference between ‘accommodation’ and ‘modification,’” she said. Friend explained that accommodation refers to changing the method of delivering the curriculum, based on a student’s special needs, such as providing extra time to take a test, while modification involves a significant change to the lesson or test, such as giving a student only five out of 10 questions to answer.

“I thought, ‘Now that makes sense,’” Svezia said.

Svezia’s daughter, Sara, in her first year as a teacher at PS 66 in Canarsie, Brooklyn, said she came away from the workshop on student participation and active learning by Anita Archer, a well-known educator, with many useful strategies to keep students focused and engaged.

“As a first-year teacher, so much was so relevant to me,” said Sara Svezia. “It showed me how much I can control in the classroom with little things, such as having students repeat an answer out loud and having them move around the room, or having students check on a partner to see if he or she is on the right page and to keep each other accountable.”

Sara Svezia said she was eager to try the new techniques out on her students. “The workshop made me hopeful I can reach those kids who aren’t engaged,” she said.

The conference also featured two workshops presented by the UFT Teacher Center on building oral language with English language learners and using technology to showcase student learning. A session on mindfulness meditation was presented by Steven Pinto.