DoorElkaar: Interculturality and diversity
DoorElkaar, the Expertise Center for Interculturality and Diversity of the HIVSET, launched the pioneering project 'p iMAT can be counted in December 2016 as part of the overarching learning theme of Foreign-speaking Newcomers.
The iMAT (tool Mathematics Other Language Home Language) stands for a collection of visually attractive tools built around five themes and as a starting point in ten languages. The tool was developed by a working group in the HIVSET, the DoorElkaar expertise center, speech therapists, care teachers and translators on a voluntary basis.
'Children often do not understand the maths language, especially if they do not speak Dutch at home. The iMAT has been developed to help those children, as a tool in the classroom and as a tool to involve parents in education. The iMAT is arithmetic language in the home language and is interesting for everyone: teachers, supervisors, volunteers, parents and the child, "says Chris Verhaegen, the responsible person in charge.
Lieve Lenaerts, coordinator of DoorElkaar, is making a first move with the iMAT: 'It is now the intention that all parties involved start working with the iMAT in mathematics lessons, among other things, as a tool for tests, arithmetic, remediation and logo lessons. We have been playing with the idea of developing iMAT playing cards from the very beginning. '
The iMAT card game is entirely in line with the goal of iMAT, namely to connect knowledge from one's own language with the new language to be learned in an easy way. Turnhout is also the world center of the playing card. So the match between DoorElkaar and Carta Mundi, the world leader in playing cards, was quickly made. These playing cards were officially launched in January 2018.
An asset for teachers, children and their parents. A way to connect: at home with learning and at school. The card game contains fifty-five playing cards with a Dutch-language calculation term on the back and the corresponding translation in their own language and a symbol. For the time being five hundred card games were printed in the five most common languages: French, English, Spanish, Romanian and Arabic.
The students of Thomas More started using the existing material and developed this website. Due to the high demand and popularity of the iMAT, a second group of students recently put together a website: https://www.imat-rekentaal.com .
How can you get these playing cards? Mail to lieve.lenaerts@hivset.be
With the input from the professional field and with the support of various organizations, we refine our iMAT every day. A few examples:
- Many teachers from primary and secondary education provided us with interesting feedback and tips.
- AP, class teacher: 'It could support' her 'and the other foreign-language children so well in her search through Dutch. Next year she has to go to high school and I want her to be as well prepared as possible. "
- Nathalie, Okan follow-up coach: 'The parents are proud when they see this instrument. They can help their children with that. "
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