CHANGE INITIATIVE

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CHANGE INITIATIVE

• By Phillip Antonino

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FAMOUS QUOTE

• The Math curriculum that we have
• just does not seem to be right.
• Math teacher,
• Laney High School, August, 2002

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WE NEED A NEW MATH CURRICULUM

• What is currently wrong?
• Too many courses.
• No standardization.
• Algebra IA (the recycle bin) and IB are not
  working.
• Too many honors courses.
• SAT Prep being underutilized.
• Scores are too low.
• Too much segregation of students.
• Curriculum actually contributes to The Gap. We
  have created Class Gap.
• Some teachers like the status quo for their own
  selfish interests. I refuse to teach on-level
  courses.

The status quo is not working
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25-15-9

• 25 number of Math courses recommended by our
  state.
• 15 number of Math courses taught at Laney High
  School.
• 9 number of Math courses taught at Souhegan
  High School.

Too many courses
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INEQUALITIES

• New Hanover Countys curriculum does not equal
  Pender Countys
• Within NHC, Laneys curriculum does not equal
  Hoggards.

No standardization
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ALGEBRA IA and IB

• Algebra IA is essentially a broken recycle bin.
  
• Algebra IB is essentially an on-level Algebra I
  where the majority of the students are the
  minority. Class Gap.
• We have low expectations for IA. If you have
  over half your students passing, then you are
  doing something wrong.
• EOC Gamesmanship. Algebra IA is our easy way of
  hiding low level students from the EOC.
• This concept is not recognized by the state.

Are we really doing what is best for our
students?
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DO WE REALLY NEED ALL OF THESE HONORS CLASSES?

• Honors courses just continue to create Class
  Gap which contributes to The Gap.
• We have also created a new status of teachers
  the Honors Teachers.
• All of our classes should be taught with high
  expectations, and high standards.

Too many honors courses
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SAT PREP

• We do not market this course at all.
• This course has a reputation of being a waste of
  time. Few students wants to take it. Nobody
  wants to teach it.
• Why does our school offer summer school SAT Prep
  at cost?
• SAT Prep should be encouraged, and sold to all
  college bound students especially those students
  identified through PSAT.
• This is a measurable event.

SAT Prep is underutilized
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RECENT MATH SCORESOur School/County/State

• Algebra I 74.9/79.2/80.0
• Geometry 70.0/71.1/67.2
• Algebra II 81.5/81.6/79.5

Are you satisfied with these scores?
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CLASS GAP

• The majority of our on-level classes is the
  minority.
• Certain teachers have become the Honors Level
  teachers.
• Honors classes go against the grain of inclusion.

Too many honors classes
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TO FIX OR NOT TO FIX?

• Start with review of national standards.
• State curriculum needs changed. Too much
  duplication, and out of touch with reality.
• County curriculum needs changed. We should at
  least be standardized within the county.

Shame on us!
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National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NTCM)

• Content Standards
• Numbers and Operations
• Algebra
• Geometry
• Measurement
• Data Analysis and Probability

• Process Standards
• Problem Solving
• Reasoning and Proof
• Communication
• Connections
• Representations

Excellent set of standards
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MY PROPOSAL 12 COURSES (state recommended
courses)

• Pre-Algebra
• Algebra I
• Geometry
• Algebra II
• Precalculus
• AP Stats
• AP Calculus

• Technical Math I
• Technical Math II
• Advanced Functions
• Discrete Math
• SAT Prep

Less broad, and richer
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JUSTIFICATION

• Change Algebra IA/IB package to Pre-Algebra, and
  Algebra I.
• Eliminate our Class Gap by eliminating Honors
  Geometry, Honors Algebra II, and Honors Discrete.
• Overall better class balance across the board.
  Create a level the learning field.

Low cost, and high impact changes
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JUSTIFICATION CONTINUED

• Focus of effort continues to be on college bound
  students.
• More emphasis on SAT Prep.
• Discrete Math as a higher level elective as an
  alternative to Precalculus and Advanced
  Functions.
• Continue with alternate Technical Math I and II
  options. This is good.
• Natural guard against Honors Teachers.

Again low cost, high impact changes
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PROPOSED PATHWAYS
Pre-Algebra
Technical Math I
Algebra I
Geometry
Technical Math II
Algebra II
SAT Prep
Advanced Functions
Pre-Calculus
Discrete Math
AP Stats
AP Calculus
Recommend Pre-Calculus remain as honors level
course. Recommend Calc and Stats remain as AP
level courses.
Clear and concise
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ANTICIPATED RESISTANCE

• EOC Gamesmanship. Fear that Algebra I scores
  will drop. I think the opposite will happen.
• Loss of honors courses and the artificial boost
  to the GPA. GPA scores are currently over
  inflated. This will serve to bring us back to
  reality.

We need to do what is best for our students
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ANTICIPATE RESISTANCE continued

• Some teachers will be required to step out of
  their comfort zone. This will help level the
  teaching playing field, and provide a natural
  counter to low level teaching burnout.

One team of teachers