Well known maths teacher Eddie Woo creates enthusiasm at Albury High

Mr Woo was at Albury High School yesterday to run engagement and development sessions to Albury, Murray and Tumbarumba High School students and staff.

Classroom teacher and mathematics growth team trainer Sarah Warry said the day had reinvigorated her passion for teaching maths.

"For me its just that little bit of an energy buzz," she said.

Ms Warry said it was a great opportunity for the teachers to access personal development, which can be hard for educators in regional and remote areas.

"Professional development is hard to access for teachers in rural and remote schools for a number of reasons," she said.

"A lot of professional development is run in metropolitan cities so its literally the travel, the accommodation, the leaving your classes.

She said for rural teachers it was particularly hard to find casual staff to back fill lessons while the teachers were at training days.

"We physically can't get casual teachers to sit in casual classrooms for the teacher that is going to attend the professional learning, which is why this program is so good because it's placing people in regional areas so we can have that immediate access."

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She said the students had responded well and were genuinely thankful for the learning opportunity.

"The kids have been really excited," she said.

"They've had the opportunity to learn mathematics in a really playful manner.

"The senior students got a lot out of today, seeing the connections between what they're learning in class, what's outlined in the syllabus and also how they can apply that to real life settings and life beyond the class.

"There are a lot of schools that are a little bit jealous.

"He's only in Albury for eight hours, but we've tried to spread the Eddie Woo magic as much as we can.

The Border Mail witnessed multiple students run up to high five, fist bump or shake Mr Woo's hand.

Year 10 student Ryan Yensch said it was "pretty cool" to have Mr Woo teach him after seeing a lot of his videos online.

"He taught us what it is to be a great mathematician," he said.

"I learned that you need to strive to do your best and there's always a way to explain everything, you've just got to think about it.

Mr Woo said the occasion had been a delight.

"The kids are lovely," he said.

"The thing that delights me most is seeing the continued passion of the teachers that work here.

"Teaching is a tough gig and I love being part of supporting and encouraging them.

"It's an honour to work with them."

Mr Woo said a lot of his work had been focusing on changing negative attitudes towards the subject.

"Mathematics is a subject that draws such strong emotional responses from people," he said.

"People who love it, deeply do, and for people who don't understand it and are frustrated by it, it's something that can make them anxious.

"My focus has been on helping students get a different perspective on what maths is.

"It's a whole different way to look at the world and solve problems.

"We want to give them that sense of enthusiasm."

Ms Warry said Mr Woo's presence had been like a breath of fresh air.

"It's reinvigorating the passion and the energy and just seeing the creative side and the playfulness that mathematics can be."

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