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Getting Serious About Closing the Math Achievement Gap. Presented to Title 1 Coordinators 1/25/06 Presented by: Dr. Felicia Clark Secondary Math Coordinator. Influences Impeding the Progress of Mathematics Education. NCTM’s Fourth Yearbook- 1930.
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Getting Serious About Closing the Math Achievement Gap Presented to Title 1 Coordinators 1/25/06 Presented by: Dr. Felicia Clark Secondary Math Coordinator
Influences Impeding the Progress of Mathematics Education NCTM’s Fourth Yearbook- 1930 • Tradition or feeling of satisfaction with the status quo • Thinking in terms of the subject instead the students • Regarding the subject as something permanent • Letting the curriculum become a sacred thing • Establishment of "minimum standards," • Students' dislike for mathematics, • Too many failures especially in Algebra (20-40%), • Too many standardized tests, • Misuse of norms, • Too much emphasis on quickness, and • Poorly prepared teachers Shared by Bill Hadley
Ron Edmonds – Effective Schools • “We can, whenever we choose, successfully teach all children whose schooling is of interest to us. We already know more than we need to do that. Whether or not we do it must finally depend on how we feel about the fact that we haven’t so far” (1979, p.23).
What Works Clearing House Study (see p.12) • The math programs that were proven to be effective and that are a demographic match to our student population are… • I CAN Learn • Connected Math • Cognitive Tutor
I CAN LEARN Contact: John Alvendia (888) 263-1390 jalvendia@icanlearn.com • 100% Computer Lab (30-35 stations) • Lab can be configured for • 6th grade • 7th grade • Algebra 1.0 • CaHSEE preparation
Connected Math 2 (Prentice Hall)Contact: James King (800) 435-3499 x1194 • Connected Mathematics Project (CMP) is an investigative approach to learning 6–8 math. that utilizes interactive problems and everyday situations to learn math. • (Middle Schools were provided with Connected Math 1 TE’s)
Cognitive Tutor40% Computer; 60% Direct Instruction using CT TextNational Contact: Bill Hadley (888) 851-7094 x 109Local Contact: Carla Howells (310) 937-0205 • Bridge to Algebra • 7th Grade standards • Laptops and 150 licenses purchased for each middle school • Algebra 1 • Algebra 1 AB standards • Laptops and 150 licenses purchased for each High School • Also Available… • Geometry • Algebra 2 ***I Highly Recommend that you purchase support from Lesson Lab to do Study Groups
New Graduation Requirements • A to G Requirements: Every student will need to successfully complete three years of High School Mathematics beginning with Algebra 1(impacts our current 6th graders) • Nationally less than 50% of all students meet this requirement • 75% of students who drop out cite mathematics as the reason
1) Identify Need: “The teachers say all of the students need ….” Not data supported Not researched based identification of needs that close the achievement gap 2) Strategy: Give all of the students with low grades (or that teachers refer) remediation, repeat the class, etc. Curriculum is what people make-up. 3) Budget Parceled out “More (cheaper) is better” or fund only personnel – not curriculum or curriculum support Identify needs (by student) based on what the data tells you (Computerized instruction can meet individual needs) 2) Strategy: Implement a research based program that is effective and put PD resources towards that initiative 3) Budget Fully Fund (and commit) to the initiative selected and deny funding for “off target” initiatives. Past Practice Recommended Change
Summary • Small purchases that augment lessons is not aggressive enough to change the 80+ year trend of math being inaccessible. • Purchase effective DESIGNED curriculum and purchase the support (study groups) to help teachers implement something foreign to them. • I CAN Learn (888) 263-1390 • Cognitive Tutor (888) 851-7094 • Connected Math James King (800) 435-3499 x1194 • Study Group Support – I highly recommend that teachers meet in small groups every 2 weeks (paid) to study curriculum. Lesson lab has a lesson study protocol. Contact… Lesson Lab Research Institute 3330 Ocean Park Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90405 T: 310/581-2300
Questions: • Felicia.clark@lausd.net