Bernice German

Background

About Bernice German

Since 1989 I have worked to improve math achievement in the U.S. My background in physics was a good preparation, as physicists look for patterns and "see the forest through the trees." Despite seeming like a pipe dream in 1989, I have come tantalizingly close. I have taught math in every grade from fifth through junior college, gifted students and those who are many years behind grade level, students of different ethnicities and socio-economic status backgrounds. I identified the commonalities and the differences. I studied educational research on how math should be taught, as well as how it is taught in countries that are consistently highly successful. Then I led a talented team to develop an intervention program. We tested it in three states and typical student growth was three grade levels in six months. Highly gratifying! With today's tight school budgets, we are revising our lessons so that students can use them independently.