BUILDING CAPACITY OF ALGEBRA I TEACHERS Caldwell Junior High Phyllis Holmes Plaquemine High Linda Smith

Caldwell Junior High Algebra I Online Phyllis Holmes Mathematics Teacher and Algebra I Online In-class Teacher

A Word or Two from our Principal Blaine Dauzat Advantages to Algebra I Online program Gives our students access to 2 teachers (Our classroom teacher and the LVS online teacher) Allows our 8 th grade students to receive a High School Carnegie unit credit for Algebra I Forces our students “into the now”. (What I mean is this- Technology is here and education needs to get on board. This is the way our students need to learn!!! They will be forced to use technology for the rest of their lives, and they may as well get a jump on it now.)

A Word or Two from our Principal Blaine Dauzat Allows us to help our top students improve test scores, i.e. “basics” may become “masteries” and “masteries” may become “advanced”. Of course, it helps to have an in-class teacher with a math background of some kind and someone as enthusiastic as possible (we are very fortunate that way!) Disadvantages: None!!!!!

NATIONAL TEST RESULTS APRIL 2007 Class of 18 honor students Advanced— with 500 Mastery— at 397 Basic— at 375 Approaching Basic— Unsatisfactory— This year I will have Leap and I-Leap to compare scores. I did have 3 lower basic score students who decided to repeat Algebra I in 9 th grade.

Input from a 5 th Year Engineering College Student Input from a 5 th Year Engineering College Student I think the program looks great!! An online teacher and an in-class teacher, double the help and putting assignments on blackboard will help the students make the transition into higher level learning. In our college classes we have to submit homework with answers to be checked as soon as you advance to the next question in a serious of 10 problems or more. For some subjects with a high level of difficulty, some students feel they really need some nudging from an in-class teacher. I feel many high school students still need more classroom one-on-one instruction, that “good foundation” before they enter the fast paced world of work or college “life”.

Input from a 3 rd Year Kinesiology College Student Input from a 3 rd Year Kinesiology College Student I did take French 2 years in high school, and at times it was difficult to discipline myself to complete some lessons. The whole Blackboard experience has greatly helped me during the past 3 years in college. The online Algebra I program would have been great, two teachers!!! I had a regular Algebra I class in 8 th grade. I believe math is better learned with in- class help, and on-line help with all the enrichment links are great bonuses.

Algebra I Students Completing an Activity Lab

Plaquemine High School Algebra I Online Linda R. Smith Mathematics Teacher and Algebra I Online In-class Teacher

PHS Goals Improve the students’ mathematical skills Improve students’ knowledge of the subject matter Have students understand real-world connections Improve students’ GEE-21 scores

Criteria Used for Selecting Students for Algebra I Online Basic in Mathematics and Reading on the LEAP 21 High attendance/Low suspension rate Classroom performance Teacher recommendation

8 th Grade Students scored BASIC on LEAP 9 th Grade Students entered Plaquemine High Students enrolled in Algebra I Online 10 th Grade 93% scored BASIC or above on GEE-21 and 28% of those scored ADVANCED or MASTERY Students enrolled in Geometry Online 11th Grade Students enrolled in Algebra II Online 12 th Grade Students are enrolled in Advanced Math Online Tracking One Class over 4 Years

Post South’s Article SUCCESS STORY: Among the First AMONG THE FIRST... Students from Plaquemine High who will complete their fourth years of online Mathematics (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II and Advanced Math) in Louisiana From left: (Front) Gabrielle Harris, Michelin Robinson, Gevonne Ruffins, and Mrs. Linda R. Smith (Class Teacher). From left: (Back) Sasha Bourgeois, Walneisha Warner, Jasmine Jackson and Kenric Delone.

Students’ Future Directions Two will attend Southern University in Baton Rouge Two will attend University of Louisiana at Lafayette One will attend Louisiana State University One will attend Xavier University One will attend University of Orleans

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