Group 6- Math Notes

Concerns:

• ESs need some type of assessment to have an idea where student is when coming in and an inventory to find out student's learning style' we need a quick placement test that we could administer before ordering curriculum.
• (We need to discover what deficiencies the student may have in math and be able to fill in the basics that they need)
• Parents aren't able to help their children-we need some type of tutoring for parents
• more math classes available at learning centers
• we need a list of good tutors available
• tutoring costs eat up a lot of inst. Funds
• it is difficult to find tutors for math above Algebra I
• it would be nice to have "drop in" services (tutoring) for math funded by the school
• Trainings for parents in bay area are too far away- Sherri suggested ESs poll parents to find out interest/needs
• Phone/Online tutoring
• High school students tutor at local school as a way to earn community service credit
• 8th graders are getting signed up for Algebra I, when it should be Pre Algebra~ They haven't been fully exposed to algebraic concepts and don't completely understand them

Steps Toward Improvement

1. Placement Test- List links to several placement tests available (ie. Pathways, Saxon, Rainbow Resources, etc.) for ES or parent to order for student. Maybe have some available at ES meetings, so ES can look them over before ordering.
2. Learning Style Inventory
3. Curriculum Choices-
   Provide ES with a list of math curriculum for all grade levels. include:
   1. Learning styles that mesh best with curriculum
   2. Difficulty
   3. Grade placement- on grade level or not?
   4. Online support available?
4. Math Drill Suggestions- have flash cards and supplemental math manipulatives and resources available for student use
5. Tutoring/Small Group Classes
   1. Provide list of good tutors available, where they are located, and cost
   2. Online/Phone tutoring
   3. Provide extra funding for free/open tutoring
      1. (Is there a possibility of grants to cover this?)
      2. (Can we pay tutors with excess IF funds from the year before?)
6. Communicate with parents the music-math link (encourage musical programs and training to possibly help improve math performance)

Placement for Math-u-see:http://www.mathusee.com/placement.html
Placement for Saxon K-3 (pdf file):
http://www.saxonhomeschool.com/pdf/placement/primary_placement.pdf
Placement for Saxon 4-8 grade Algebra (pdf file):
http://www.saxonhomeschool.com/pdf/placement/hs_middle_placement.pdf
Placement for Singapore Math:
http://www.singaporemath.com/placement.htm#placement%20test
Placement for Excel Math:
http://www.excelmath.com/downloads/placement_tests.html
Math Placement test from Rainbow Resource item#021835 for $4.25
Diagnostic English & Math tests for $5 at :
http://www.pathwaypublishers.com/pdf/orderform.pdf