Abstract:

The creation of an inclusive learning environment has become an essential issue in Hungarian schools in Slovakia. The number of students from marginalized groups, including Roma and from disadvantageous social status has risen. The differentiation and the creation of proper learning environment in heterogeneous classes and the tackling of status problems emerging among students have become inevitable. The adaptation of the Complex Instructional Programme (CIP) developed at Stanford University into the our education system provides a possibility for the creation of such an inclusive learning environment. The developers of the programme believed that by change in the social structure of a class teachers could create such a learning environment in which all students could reach achievements according to their level of skills.

The CIP method enhances the work of teachers with tools for work in heterogeneous groups in classes. The teaching of mathematics at primary level is the most heterogeneous when taking the skills of students into consideration. Differentiation and group work has numerous drawbacks due to significant gaps in the level of the knowledge of students.

CIP is a method for group work based on special instructions designed for heterogeneous groups which could be effectively used by teachers. In our study we are going to present the know-how of the adaptation of the method into the teaching of mathematics at primary level in elementary schools. We are going to analyse the experiences of teachers with the new method.

CIP methodology was introduced into the education system of 2 Hungarian elementary schools in Slovakia in the academic year 2018/2019. The introduction of the new method included the teaching of mathematics at primary level as well. We are going to present the steps of the procedure of the introduction of the CIP method into education, the experiences of teachers with the new method based on interviews and the teachers’ assessment of the new methodology in practice.

Keywords:

Inclusive learning environment, Complex Instructional Programme (CIP), teaching of mathematics, primary education, teachers interview.