Students Gaining Math Power at Bloomington High School

1
Students Gaining Math Power at Bloomington High
School

• 1202 E. Locust
• Bloomington, IL 61701

Nancy Norem Powell, Lead Teacher Mathematics
powelln_at_district87.org www.district87.org/staff/po
welln
2
The Math Department Goals

• Build positive relationships with students
• Make math meaningful so that ALL students will
• increase their understanding and skills in
  mathematics
• be able to apply math in a variety of curricular
  contexts.

3
How were doing this....

• Teachers build positive relationships with their
  students
• They believe that EVERY child can learn math and
  tell them
• They know that students learn in different ways
  and at different times and give them tools and
  opportunities to do so
• They help students understand that making
  mistakes is a normal way to gain knowledge

The Goal Build positive relationships with
students and make math meaningful so that ALL
students will increase their understanding and
skills in mathematics and are able to apply math
in a variety of curricular contexts.
4
How were doing this....

• Teachers collaborate with their colleagues and
  create lessons using a variety of contexts and
  learning styles infused with

• Technology (Internet, Geometers Sketchpad,
  Fathom, Moodle,etc.),
• Hands-on activities (making direct and indirect
  measurements, reading blueprints, completing
  projects, etc.), and
• Use of manipulatives (algebra tiles, geometric
  solids and tools, miras, mirrors, teacher-made
  manipulatives, etc.)

The Goal Build positive relationships with
students and make math meaningful so that ALL
students will increase their understanding and
skills in mathematics and are able to apply math
in a variety of curricular contexts.
5
How we're doing this....

• Teachers provide instruction symbolically,
  graphically, numerically, and verbally
• and have students expressing their mathematics
  symbolically, graphically, numerically, and
  verbally
• with and withouttechnology.

The Goal Build positive relationships with
students and make math meaningful so that ALL
students will increase their understanding and
skills in mathematics and are able to apply math
in a variety of curricular contexts.
6
How we're doing this....

• Teachers provide real-world applications in
  lessons and activities via

• Hands-on activities (i.e. using blueprints,
  product development, making direct and indirect
  measurements, etc.),
• Futures Channel (http//www.thefutureschannel.com
  /index.php) and other movies ,
• Word problems,
• WorkKeys problems/KeyTrain Software, etc.

The Goal Build positive relationships with
students and make math meaningful so that ALL
students will increase their understanding and
skills in mathematics and are able to apply math
in a variety of curricular contexts.
7
How we're doing this....

• Assessments include
• written explanations,
• multiple choice questions, and
• projects to apply mathematics - projects are
  done by students individually and in teams, etc.

The Goal Build positive relationships with
students and make math meaningful so that ALL
students will increase their understanding and
skills in mathematics and are able to apply math
in a variety of curricular contexts.
8
How we're doing this....
We make Data Driven Decisions based on

• pre- and post-tests, quarter and semester exams

The Goal Build positive relationships with
students and make math meaningful so that ALL
students will increase their understanding and
skills in mathematics and are able to apply math
in a variety of curricular contexts.
9
School and District Goals

• Goal 1 Improved test scores for all students in
  all populations
• Goal 2 80 of all students in all populations
  enrolled in core classes
• Goal 3 Proportionate representation in all
  classes and levels
• Goal 4 Proportionate representation in all
  honors and awards presentations
• Goal 5 90 of all students will earn one years
  credit in one year

10
Goal 1 Improved test scores for all students in
all populations
11
Goal 1 Improved test scores for all students in
all populations
PSAE 11th Grade Mathematics
63.6
57.6
55.2
50.3
54.5
62.3
M/E
12
Goal 1 Improved test scores for all students in
all populations
13
Goal 2 80 of all students in all populations
enrolled in core classes
14
Goal 5 90 of all students will earn one years
credit in one year
15
Low Income (1993 2006)
16
How we're doing this....

• Teachers provide students with
• Carefully crafted lessons
• Timely feedback,
• Study skills,
• Test taking strategies,
• and continue to
• Communicate with parents, and
• Build positive relationships with students and
  parents

The Goal Build positive relationships with
students and make math meaningful so that ALL
students will increase their understanding and
skills in mathematics and are able to apply math
in a variety of curricular contexts.
17
Test-Taking Strategies

• Determine if there is a penalty for wrong
  answers, if not, make sure to answer all of the
  questions

• Eliminate all of the obviously wrong answers
• Code questions that are skipped till the end
• Figure out how much time there is for each
  question and at what time you should be halfway
  through

The Goal Build positive relationships with
students and make math meaningful so that ALL
students will increase their understanding and
skills in mathematics and are able to apply math
in a variety of curricular contexts.
18
How we're doing this....

• Teachers support Xtreme Math (for all students),
  Project Success (for students who get special
  services) and provide other outside resources
  (office hours, websites, etc.)

The Goal Build positive relationships with
students and make math meaningful so that ALL
students will increase their understanding and
skills in mathematics and are able to apply math
in a variety of curricular contexts.
19
XTreme Math
A Program for BHS students who are striving to
achieve their full potential in order to qualify
for better opportunities in education and careers.

• After school program Mondays Thursdays from
  225 315
• Open and Free to all students, however
  targeted/invited students are students with
• math PLAN test scores between 15-18
• Students enrolled in geometry as juniors
• Minority or free/reduced lunch
• A drink and a snack are provided
• An after school bus and city bus tokens are
  provided

The Goal Build positive relationships with
students and make math meaningful so that ALL
students will increase their understanding and
skills in mathematics and are able to apply math
in a variety of curricular contexts.
20
XTreme Math

• Administrative support is very important for
  students and teachers (recruiting encouraging
  students to participate, providing resources and
  time for teachers, etc.)
• 2 Math Department teachers are in the computer
  lab during this time to develop positive
  relationships with students and to provide
  activities/ homework help
• ACT Test Prep, Key Train, and other math software
  are available for students to use

The Goal Build positive relationships with
students and make math meaningful so that ALL
students will increase their understanding and
skills in mathematics and are able to apply math
in a variety of curricular contexts.
21
Build positive relationships with students and
Make math meaningful so that ALL students will
increase their understanding and skills in
mathematics and are able to apply math in a
variety of curricular contexts.
22
Remember. . .

• All students need Math Power!

and
Obstacles are what you see when you take your
eyes off of your goals! - Studebaker
23
Check out this interesting article and other
research on this site

• From High School to the Future ACT
  Preparation--Too Much, Too Late5/2008. Elaine
  Allensworth, Macarena Correa and Steve
  Ponisciakhttp//ccsr.uchicago.edu/content/publica
  tions.php
• Futures Channel - career movies available on the
  Internet (http//www.thefutureschannel.com/index.p
  hp)