Walk past Allegan High School math teacher Chris Conrad’s room, and you will see what he describes as “organized chaos.” Students are grouping together to discuss mathematical concepts that have real-world connections, hands are waving to alert someone in the room that help is needed, and classmates are leaping into action to help their peers find solutions to the questions they have.
That classroom atmosphere and the learning taking place within it hasn’t gone unnoticed, as the Van Andel Institute for Education recently recognized Mr. Conrad as one of its 2023 Betty Van Andel Teachers of Excellence. The award seeks to recognize teachers that create classrooms that encourage curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking.
“It’s humbling,” Mr. Conrad said. “The last three years have been hard. To be recognized, it makes it feel worth it.”
Mr. Conrad and his department have been working with the Van Andel Institute to design a project-based curriculum for their students. In addition, he is also taking part in the Thinking Classroom series through the Allegan Area Educational Service Agency to help promote student engagement and cultivate deep thinking.
This is on display in his personal finance class. “The project is to figure out how we would buy a house,” Mr. Conrad said. Students learn how to use technology business management software to understand interest rates, private mortgage insurance, health insurance costs, budgeting, and retirement planning. “It’s incredibly engaging and super fun to do,” Mr. Conrad said of this type of project-based curricula. “It’s a serious time commitment to prep for it, but this is how teaching should be.”
By the end of the year, Mr. Conrad hopes that he has helped his students become independent thinkers. “I want them to know that they can do math,” he said. “Not everyone is going to like math, but when you come in and give it an honest effort, are willing to try, make some mistakes, and keep trying to push forward, that is how you learn it. (Once they have learned that), no one can take that away,” he said. “That is yours to keep.”