Rita Bateson

Rita Bateson is the author of Mathematics for the MYP by Concept series. Inspired by the ‘Meet a mathematician’ feature in her books, she has written her own Learner Profile.

Find out more about her work, family life and interests below, or view more information about her MYP Mathematics titles. https://www.hoddereducation.co.uk/RitaBateson

REFLECTIVE

I was born and raised in Ireland, the land of saints and scholars or so it is known.

I grew up in a large family who were all fascinated by learning, albeit in very different areas.

BALANCED

I began my formal education in a Gaelscoil, where everything is taught in Irish and moved to English language for secondary school. In school I was an avid learner, extremely keen on literature, languages, mathematics, music (especially the harp) and the Arts.

THINKER

After school, I studied Applied Physics and German in Dublin City University and Üniversität Leipzig. The Berlin Wall had fallen not long before and it was a fascinating place to live, challenging my thinking about the relationship between history and the present. I attended Trinity College to study to become a Mathematics and Sciences teacher thereafter.

PRINCIPLED

In my first schools in Ireland and England, I learned the importance of fairness for, and trust in, students. I met my husband, Andrew, who is also a teacher and we made the move to our first international school in Switzerland.

Here I began my IB journey and became an examiner as soon as I could! This helped me better understand the principles behind this new system which resonated with me so much.

Besides this I have been a lifelong Liverpool supporter, through good times and bad.

RISK-TAKER

Not enjoying the perils of the Swiss ski-slopes ...

... our next move to Bermuda allowed me to tackle an increasingly crippling fear of flying. Where better to do this than an island sitting alone in the middle of the ocean?

KNOWLEDGEABLE

In 2013 I joined the IB as Curriculum and Assessment Manager for MYP, responsible for curriculum development. I worked with hundreds of schools and thousands of educators implementing changes to the MYP, developing eAssessments, materials and living and breathing the MYP. In 2015 I was appointed as Senior Curriculum Strand Manager, with responsibility for these subjects across all programmes.

OPEN-MINDED

I have always been fascinated by travel, being widely read and am keen to travel even further.

I have been fortunate to have given workshops, met educators and even vacation in some extraordinary places. Here I got the chance to learn from and truly understand that other people with their differences are often also right. My favourite locations, so far, include Jordan, San Diego, Dublin and Japan.

INQUIRER

In my work with the IB I enjoyed exploring current educational practices and how ...

... we can make the mathematics teaching and learning as practical and as beautiful as we know it can and should be. I am interested in finding ways to overcome mathematical anxiety, increase access to the STEM subjects for people who are not always encouraged to be there. My overall ambition is to never hear the phrase “bad at Math(s)” ever again.

CARING

I am now delighted to be at the “chalkface” where I belong ...

... teaching and leading an exemplary department in the International School of Hamburg. In a classroom is where I get to care for both students and numbers. I have the rare pleasure of working with my husband and our young daughter, Ellie, is learning German at an astonishing rate.

COMMUNICATOR

In addition to writing the MYP by concept series ... I am excited now to support educators as it arrives in classrooms and schools for next year. I can be found on LinkedIn, Twitter and Pinterest.