June 2017
Aloha from Hawaii, USA! Dear Colleagues,
I am Yunus Peer, a teacher living in Hawaii, USA, and working at Punahou School, alma mater of former President Barack Obama. I was born and raised in Port Shepstone (KZN-RSA), high-schooled at Waterford Kamhlaba (UWC) in Swaziland from 1971-73, and then left South Africa when my confiscated passport was returned by the authorities in June 1976.
We began this volunteer professional development project in Maths, Science, and Technology in 2001 with guidance from then Minister of Education, the late Professor Kader Asmal, and the sponsorship of Punahou School (Hawaii, USA) and the Cassim Peer Trust (RSA). A USA team of 4 facilitators shared content, methodology, and pedagogy with 75 of our colleagues from rural schools. Since the pilot project in the winter school holidays of 2001, more than 150 USA maths and science teachers have facilitated workshops with 5,400 South African colleagues, and the Department of Basic Education estimates that 1.5 million learners have benefited from their teachers' upgraded skills. TABSA has also dedicated 8 computer labs in 3 provinces, currently serving 4000 learners. In 2012, we began a school uniform project that has provided uniforms to 400 children in rural schools over the past four years and, most recently in 2016, TABSA began a rural school sanitary pad campaign.
In 2017, TABSA is partnering with the Dept. of Education in East London (Eastern Cape) and Bloemfontein (Free State) to conduct workshops for 660 teachers. We have a very diverse and talented team of professionals from all over the US, and I am grateful to them for their love and generosity.
TABSA is an all-volunteer organization. Our projects are supported by schools, churches, family and friends in both countries. Not a single TABSA administrator, staff, or teaching team member is paid for any services.
The curriculum content of this DVD reflects the new requirements of CAPS in South Africa. It also contains a vast library of materials from previous years. We trust that you will share this resource with your fellow colleagues. The contents of this DVD have been assembled by classroom teachers, for classroom teachers. It is distributed FREE of charge by TABSA, and is NOT to be bought, sold, or traded for profit.
With sincere respect for what you do in the classroom every day — Our future depends on it!
Mr. Yunus Peer, Director TABSA
Punahou School, Honolulu, Hawaii (USA)
www.punahou.edu/
ypeer@punahou.edu
Primary Sponsors of TABSA 2017:
South African Dept. of Education www.education.gov.za Teachers Across Borders www.teachersacrossborders.org Punahou School www.punahou.edu
First Car Rental, RSA: www.firstcarrental.co.za
Premier Hotels, RSA www.premierhotels.co.za
The Cassim Peer Family Trust, Port Shepstone, RSA
The Sheridan and Julia Ing Family Foundation, Honolulu, Hawaii.
TABSA 2017 Team:
Mr. Thokozani Mteshane – TABSA Assistant Director
Siyaphambili HS, Harding, RSA
t.mteshane@yahoo.com
Thokozani Mteshane was born and bred in South Africa, KwaZulu Natal in Harding. He graduated in BscEd, ABET, ACE, HIV/Aids care, counseling & management, occupational health & safety and started teaching in 1998. He currently teaches mathematics grade 12 at Siyaphambili High School where he serves as a Departmental Head of Maths & Sciences and a Deputy Principal. Thokozani attended the first TABSA workshop in 2001 and has been an assistant TABSA administrator since 2006. In 2011, he was appointed as Assistant Director. He and his wife Nomathemba live in Harding with their children, his Mum, brother, sisters and nephews.
Ms. Laurie Lee – TABSA Administrator
Iolani School, Honolulu, Hawaii (USA)
www.iolani.org
llee@iolani.org
Ms. Avishan Y. Peer – TABSA Coordinator
Mercy High School Spanish Teacher, San Francisco, California (USA)
http://www.mercyhs.org
avi6290@yahoo.com
Maths
Ms. Grace Brown – Maths; Learning Specialist
Harvard-Westlake School, Los Angeles, California (USA)
www.hw.com
kcdog97@yahoo.com
Grace Brown joins TABSA's math team for the first time and brings her unique expertise of working as a learning specialist and teaching math for 21 years. With a Master’s in learning disabilities from Teacher's College at Columbia University, Grace has taught grades 5-12 and has served as a director of and creator of learning resource programs in numerous schools. Grace was born in Ohio, USA, and taught most recently at Miss Porter's School in Connecticut, USA. She will move to Harvard- Westlake School in Los Angeles, California in August 2017. Outside the classroom, Grace enjoys reading, cooking, traveling and spending time with her dog.
Dr. Aviva Halani – Maths
Phillips Exeter Academy, New Hampshire (USA)
www.exeter.edu
ahalani@exeter.edu
Aviva holds a B.A. from Wellesley, and an M.A. and a Ph.D. from Arizona State. Though her degrees are in mathematics, her research has focused on students' problem solving approaches to counting problems, instructional interventions, and student understanding of calculus concepts. She has presented her results at numerous conferences. In Arizona, she was a Math Content Expert for Adaptive Curriculum, an ed tech company that develops highly interactive digital math and science lessons, and taught at ASU. She has been teaching various courses from algebra to calculus to proof at Exeter since 2013.
Mr. Franklyn Lau - Maths
Honolulu, Hawaii (USA)
fflau@alum.mit.edu
Franklyn Lau was born and raised in Hawaii, USA and was educated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology. He is a former faculty member of Hawaii Baptist Academy in its middle school and high school, where he taught 8th grade Earth and Physical Science, Chemistry and Physics. Franklyn first participated with TABSA, on the 2011 Math team. He currently works as a Family Law Paralegal at the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, a non-profit law firm serving Hawaii's indigent population. Franklyn's passion for social justice extends beyond work and into his personal life: he resides in a community house that has helped in the transition and recovery of homeless individuals, survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence. For recreation, Franklyn loves to watch the Boston Red Sox and play ultimate frisbee.
Mr. James Metz – Maths (Team Lead)
Honolulu, Hawaii (USA)
metz@hawaii.edu
James Metz is the heart of TABSA and its math team. Born in Springfield, Illinois in the USA, Jim is a retired high school and college math teacher with 42 years of experience. He has been a U.S. Peace Corps teacher trainer and past president of professional mathematics organizations in Hawaii and has authored a math book and several math and science articles. Southern Africa is a second home to Jim, who will be spending his 13th summer there, facilitating maths workshops with TABSA.
Ms. Kristine Nakada – Maths
Polytechnic School, Pasadena, California (USA)
www.polytechnic.org
knakada@polytechnic.org
Kristine Nakada is a math and outdoor enthusiast, born and raised in California, USA. She recently completed her fourth year of teaching high school maths – algebra, geometry and trigonometry – at Polytechnic School in Pasadena, California. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Williams College and a Master’s in Education from the University of Pennsylvania. Outside of the classroom, Kristine coaches soccer, track and field, skiing and snowboarding, and enjoys all sports and outdoor activities including hiking, camping, traveling and trying new foods. TABSA is pleased to welcome Kristine to its 2017 maths team.
Mr. Brad Uy – Maths
Kamehameha School, Honolulu, Hawaii (USA)
www.ksbe.edu
brad.uy@gmail.com
Brad Uy hails from the beautiful islands of Hawaii, in the USA, and is a creative and light-hearted educator. He has taught maths and English for seven years, and has volunteered on three trips with Teachers Across Borders - Southern Africa. In August 2017 he will be working at Kamehameha Schools, Hawai’i, an educational institution dedicated to serving native Hawaiian children. For recreation, Brad enjoys reading, tennis, and cooking; he also casually dabbles in photography.
Science
Dr. Carol Brennan – Science
Honolulu, Hawaii (USA)
carolb@hawaii.edu
After over 50 years of working with children and teachers, Carol retired last year from the University of Hawaii where she spent more than 30 years with the Curriculum Research and Development Group (CRDG). She has taught K–9 students (all subjects for elementary, science for 6–9), and developed an elementary science curriculum, Developmental Approaches in Science, Health and Technology (DASH), which was implemented across the USA, in Micronesia, and most recently in Russia. Carol has taught undergraduate science methods courses and worked with teachers of science in 24 states, and in many Pacific Islands in addition to China, Australia, New Zealand, Ethiopia, Korea, and most recently in Russia. Although officially retired, Carol continues her teacher support work in Micronesia and Russia. Carol's passions include snorkeling, pottery and travel. Carol and her husband Bob have two children and seven grandchildren. Their combined years of experience and wisdom are a great asset to this year's TABSA science team.
Mr. Robert E. Brennan – Science
Honolulu, Hawaii (USA)
brennanr002@hawaii.rr.com
“Bob” is a newer member of TABSA's 2017 science team with 13 years teaching experience in high school Chemistry, Marine Science and Physical Science. Prior to teaching, Bob served as an officer in the United States Air Force for 25 years. Now retired from teaching, Bob is a volunteer Educational Guide at Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, a marine life conservation district and the most popular snorkeling destination in Hawai'i. Bob and his wife Carol, also a member of TABSA's science team, have two children and seven grandchildren. They live in Hawaii, in the USA.
Mr. Casey Jones – Science Assistant, TABSA 2017
Currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Science and Engineering at the University of Colorado, USA
cmjones0228@gmail.com
Dr. Richard “Rick” Jones – Science
University of Hawaii, USA
www.hawaii.edu
rmjones7@hawaii.edu
Rick was born in San Jose, CA in 1961. After earning a BS in Geology, he found himself in the Sudan in the mid 80s as part of an NGO working to develop safe and stable drinking water in several refugee camps. This experience changed his career path and he went back to school to earn an education degree, a BS in Secondary Science Education, as well as a Masters in Natural Science. Since 1990 he has taught all sciences, leaving the public school classroom in 2010 to take his current position at the University of Hawaii West Oahu where he teachers both science content courses and science education methods courses. Beyond the classroom, he dabbles in kitchen chemistry, investigating ways to brew the ultimate chocolate honey nut-brown and Pineapple Honey summer ales. Rick also enjoys spending time with his wife MaryAnn and scuba diving with his 23-year-old son Casey, an assistant on the science team.
Dr. Veronica Ledoux – Science (Team Lead)
Catlin Gabel School, Portland, Oregon (USA)
http://www.catlin.edu
ledouxv@catlin.edu
Veronica Ledoux was born in California, USA. After earning a Bachelor’s of science in biochemistry and a doctorate in neurobiology, she started a career in academic science research but realized that most of the people she knew felt that understanding science was beyond their reach. She became a science teacher in hopes of improving science literacy for all ages. Veronica currently lives in Portland, Oregon and has been teaching for the last 9 years at Catlin Gabel School. Working with 9th-12th graders, she has taught a wide variety of chemistry, biology, physics, and public health classes. She’s also led global education trips to Uganda, Rwanda, Nepal, Japan, and Sweden and has been working with TABSA since 2012. Veronica loves experiencing the natural world on hikes and long-distance bicycle adventures.
Reflections
Kristine Nakada – TABSA 2017 - Polytechnic School , CA
Aviva Halani – Phillips Exeter Academy, NH
Brad Uy - TAB-SA 2017, Kamehameha School
Veronica Ledoux , Catlin Gabel School, Science
James Metz – TABSA Reflection on South Africa 2017
Rick Jones – University of Hawaii
Teacher Evaluations
Bloemfontein FET Physical Science 2017