|
|
Re: High School Math Courses for 9 & 10
Posted:
Nov 4, 2001 3:30 PM
|
|
This is not directly pertinent to the original question, but I wonder
if any districts have ever considered a variation on the two-year
block schedule scenario--teach Algebra I and Geometry courses within
the same block schedule concurrently, alternating the algebra and
geometry days, but stretching it for two years?
It is doubtful that this has been tried on a large scale, yet this is
the approach that would most closely resemble at least some of the
European programs.
VS-)
On 04 Nov 2001, Ken Worsley wrote:
> Maggi, At Holliston we have had block scheduling for over five
>years now and we have tweeked our math program a number of times. -
We
>are still going over options!
> Algebra I will not work in a single semester. The kids need time
>to reflect and absorb . . . 90 straight days of doing two lessons a
>day just does not cut it. Most (over 60%) take algebra I at the
>middle school, so the students in algebra I are not the strongest of
>math kids to begin with, so we do 3 terms of algebra I. Some classes
>run term 1, 3, and 4 and some 2,3, and 4 or we pair 1,2, and 3 with
1,
>2, and 4 (teachers always get two algebra I classes to easy the
>scheduling). We offer quarter electives for the kids, Intro to
>keyboarding, Intro to Programming, Game Theory, Intro to Accounting
>and Business, Elective Phy. Ed. classes, Arts classes, Tech Ed., etc.
>Since we have gone to this model out SAT scores in math have gone
from
>an average of 532 in 1995 to 576 last year. This is with 92-95% of
>the kids (about 180) taking the SAT. We still teach geometry and
>Algebra II in a semester block but all the kids have to take the
>Chicago FST (Functions, Statistics, and Trig) after algebra II for us
>to cover all of the standards in the frameworks for algebra II.
>
>
>On 01 Nov 2001, Maggi Hartnett wrote:
>>I teach at Ayer High School. We currently have block scheduling
with
>>Algebra One and Geometry one semester each.
>>
>>Since the MCAS scores came out, the principal (who is not a math
>>teacher) thinks that we should be teaching Algebra One and Geometry
>>all year for a block. That is Algebra One Part 1 first semester and
>>then Algebra One Part 2 second semester and then the same for
>>Geometry. He feels that more is better.
>>
>>I think that this is too much. What are other schools doing? We
>>would like to keep the block scheduling concept. How have you been
>>creative about this?
>>
>>Thank you for any ideas.
>>
>>Maggi
>
|
|
