ipl-logo

Algebra Coursework Essay

417 Words2 Pages

Typically, students are assigned to algebra coursework based on a combination of teacher or counselor recommendation, prior achievement, and student or parent preferences (Dougherty, 2015).

For the decade before the adoption of Common Core State Standards in 2010, the policy of the State Board of Education was to make Algebra 1 the standard course for eighth graders so they could progress to Calculus in high school (Fensterwald, 2014).

There has been a movement, the “Algebra-for-All”, where student readiness for algebra was questioned (Goodman, 2014). Yet, universal enrollment may force underprepared students into a course in which they may not be successful, particularly without additional supports. Simply mandating that all students …show more content…

In addition, students should take a test which measures the foundational number sense, computation, measurement, algebra and functions skills from middle school math. Students should also earn at least a 90% on this 8th grade end-of-year placement test before being considered for an accelerated pathway. A deliberate scope and sequence of seventh and eighth grade standards needs to be provided to students prior to beginning their accelerated Algebra 1 course.

Although the research evidence on the needs of students who enter high school with inadequate mathematics skills is minimal, schools can employ several promising strategies to accelerate instruction (National High School Center: Curriculum and Instruction). These include the following:

• Double-blocked class schedules: With a double-blocked class schedule, classes meet daily for extended periods and can cover a year’s worth of material in one semester. This will give students the opportunity to attempt and earn more credits per year than more traditional schedules (Herlihy & Quint,

Show More
Related

  • Common Core Standards Argumentative Essay

    748 Words  | 3 Pages

    Today there is a huge debate between Common Core Standards and the Alabama College and Career Readiness Standards. These two standards are highly debated and investigated amongst teachers, government officials, and parents to understand which standards will enhance student’s academic knowledge. Some state political boards do not agree with the new adoption if the Common Core Standards. After researching both standards and gaining my own opinion, I think to adopt the new Common Core Standards is a positive thing for our school systems. Even though it has some negative like difficult transition for students, standards are vague, and unequal access to technology in the classroom and at home (Meador, 2017).

    Read More

  • Clayton Ridge Pros And Cons

    685 Words  | 3 Pages

    Approximately 85% of students are currently proficient in reading and math. If, after analyzing pertinent data, individual students were non-proficient or “on the bubble,” swift interventions were implemented, and the majority of these students have shown vast gains in those scores. We began specific interventions two years ago. In the elementary and middle school, non-proficient students receive the common curriculum in their homerooms, and then are redirected to different staff members for remedial aid. In the high school, specific classes were created for interventions in reading and math such as: Short Stories, Extended Learning, Algebra Concepts, and Geometry Concepts.

    Read More

  • Standardized Testing Chapter Summary

    771 Words  | 4 Pages

    In this chapter, Jo Boaler describes several school systems who do not use “tracking,” filters that separate students into high-level mathematics classes and low-level mathematics classes. She continues with a discussion that reminds us of the harmful effects of “tracking” and the damage it does to students’ mindsets, both those students on the high-level and the low-level track. Ms. Boaler goes on to suggest that heterogeneous groups of students can effectively work together and individual students can develop a growth mindset. The remainder of the chapter focuses on teaching mixed ability groups effectively and includes an in-depth look at how the tasks students complete and the type of instruction they receive can promote growth mindsets.

    Read More

  • Block Scheduling Research Paper

    537 Words  | 3 Pages

    The student and teacher both also have to balance in time with their families. Many are opposed to block scheduling. Some would say that block scheduling is not good for the student because it is less subject focused and too much time can be spent between each subject. A student is still required to take all of the core subjects each year of their education. They also are required to have a certain number of credits each year to graduate.

    Read More

  • Algebra II Accelerated: Case Study

    154 Words  | 1 Pages

    The Winter term of Algebra II Accelerated presented a significant challenge for Dylan as we moved past review of the topics he encountered in Algebra I. He earned a commendable grade of 94% on the Unit 3 test, which assessed his understanding of inverses of lines and quadratic equations. Dylan missed several classes due to illness, however, upon his return, he seemed to lack his enthusiasm for Mathematics. Dylan was proactive in setting up a timeline to make up his work, but he failed to show up for his make-up test.

    Read More

  • Texas Accountability System History

    1124 Words  | 5 Pages

    This new assessment tool had two major impacts. First, the expectations for individual students were raised by increasing the difficulty of the material on the assessment—no longer were the tests considered minimal skills tests. Passing each of the reading, writing and mathematics components of the grade 10 test, also known as the exit-level exam, was a requirement for receiving a high school diploma in the state. Second, schools were also held to higher standards with the expectation that not only the campus as whole but the specific subpopulations (African-American, Caucasian, Hispanic, and Economically Disadvantaged) had to achieve minimal standards. Passing rates on these standardized exams, along with attendance and drop-out data were used to assign schools accountability ratings with severe repercussions mandated for schools that were placed at the low end of the accountability scale (Texas Education Agency et al.,

    Read More

  • Michael Moore Idiot Nation Summary

    1330 Words  | 6 Pages

    Common core standards should be taught in the dominant way to solve the problem first, and when the majority of the students understand the concept, other complex ways to solve the problem can be taught from a variety of choices to choose from. This process is time consuming, but it is a guaranteed way to increase the child’s brain level of understanding, since they are at an age that is still under developed and have trouble solving challenging

    Read More

  • Common Core State Standards

    1162 Words  | 5 Pages

    It was discovered that in education there were certain areas that were universal and common among learning. The two main subjects of concern were English language arts and mathematics. Common core is the new curriculum implemented now in school systems to develop learning. Common Core Standards are a clear set of shared goals and expectations for the knowledge and skills students need in English language arts and mathematics at each grade level so they can be prepared to succeed in college, career, and life. Although, Common Core seems to be here to stay this article addresses concerns in reference to content, instruction, and assessment.

    Read More

  • No Child-Left Behind DBQ

    1440 Words  | 6 Pages

    Combined with the 2000’s recession crises, many high schools and elementary schools have decreased resources or even cut classes in subject areas that are not part of No Child Left Behind 's accountability standards. Since 2007, almost 71% of schools have reduced instruction time in subjects such as art and music to provide more funding to Math and English (http://www.ed.gov/esea). In some schools, even though art and music remain available, students who are not on level with basic skills are sent to remedial reading or math classes rather the other optional

    Read More

  • Seven Lesson Schoolteacher

    575 Words  | 3 Pages

    Students never have a complete experience except on the installment plan (Gatto, part I, pars 11). I received flashbacks from my childhood, when I knew there could have been additional work to do before the bell rang. I always ended up being swept away into a completely different environment to advance skills in a random field of knowledge. To counter my agreement, the set class times did help in my erudition to what studies I relished more and the areas which I felt were unbearable. This determined my time management based on interests outside of school.

    Read More

  • Common Core Argument Analysis

    1855 Words  | 8 Pages

    The Common Core sequence does not completely tackle algebra until high school, and the standards don't fully prepare students to take calculus even in college...” (NPR). The Common Core sequence spends too much time on the basics when the emphasis for understanding the kinks should be on more of the complicated topics such as calculus, which is needed before entry to college. For Common Core English standards, the readings are split by percentages between fiction and nonfiction/informational text in order to build strong vocabulary. The division is unreasonable as teachers should decide what is best for students.

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of American Education

    1580 Words  | 7 Pages

    Although the common belief is that certain aspects of school are important for an ideal education for all students, the main problems that need to be rectified as soon as possible include the lettered grading system and test scores as the main measure of achievement as well as a lack of disciplined and motivated in teachers who do their jobs correctly in order for their students to reach their full potential and excel in life. Out of all the issues with American education today, one of the most overvalued yet problematic for students is the grades and scores that represent their classroom proficiency and content knowledge. It is true that today, in the United States, the easiest and seemingly most reliable way to track student performance and rank schools by quality of education is by simply marking students based on their scores on assignments and assessments done in school or on standardized exams designed to measure mastery of content, and by comparing and analyzing the

    Read More

  • Acceleration In Middle School

    334 Words  | 2 Pages

    In grades 4, 5, and 6, students may be placed in Advanced math. In the Advanced math courses, students quickly

    Read More

  • Cost Of Standardized Testing Essay

    612 Words  | 3 Pages

    In a study published by the Center for Studies in Higher Education at the University of California, Berkeley in 2007, standardized tests scores were proven to be not the greatest predictor of success in college, but instead high school grade point averages correlated with higher grades in college (Geiser, & Santelices, 2007). In another study, finding found that SAT scores were even poorer predictors of college success in minority students (Hoffman, & Lowitzki, 2005). Once again, high school grade point averages were shown to be better predictors of good grades in college (Hoffman, & Lowitzki, 2005). While SAT’s might have been created to help predict a student’s aptitude for success in college, it is proven that they do not accomplish that

    Read More

  • Is Standardized Testing Worst

    913 Words  | 4 Pages

    People learn in all different ways and when you take a test they are not made for all the different types of people and their learning styles. ”Tables have illustrated that approximately 7 percent of whites and Asian Americans reached the Advanced level compared to 1 percent of African Americans and 2 percent of Hispanics. Nearly 50 percent of white students and 40 percent of Asian American students reached or exceeded the Proficient level, while 21 percent and 30 percent of African American and Hispanic students, respectively, reached or exceeded this level. Even wider disparities are found on the 1996 twelfth-grade NAEP math and science tests (WAYNE J. CAMARA and AMY ELIZABETH SCHMIDT 3). With things like this being shown why do administrators think that standardized testing is the best route?

    Read More

More about Algebra Coursework Essay

Open Document