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TES works to enhance math
Published Tuesday, November 17, 2009
If nothing else, the Troy Board of Education left its meeting Monday knowing one thing — Troy Elementary School is working on its math skills.
After falling short in one category last year, TES didn’t quite make the marks of state proficiency in math. But, even just one category was enough to get the school system on its toes.
TES Principal Geoffrey Spann told the board several steps TES teachers are taking to enhance its math skills.
For third, fourth and fifth graders, students have been split in classes based on their testing levels. Spann said they are either placed in a regular, special education or resource class.
The school also has purchased “Study Island,” a computer-based program to aide in the learning process.
Students are preparing for the Alabama Reading and Math Test in the spring. But, Spann and Troy City Schools Superintendent Linda Felton-Smith both assured the point behind extra math enhancement is not just for testing “proficient.”
“We are there for the children,” Spann said.
“We will not just teach the test,” Felton-Smith said.
Rather, testing is a way for the school systems to measure students’ progress, they said.
The testing is done in April, and Spann said teachers are well on the way to preparing students to meet those goals.
“It’s like if we’re going to Burger King at noon. It doesn’t matter how we get there, just that we arrive at noon,” Spann said. “It doesn’t necessarily matter how we’re there as long as we’re there.”
Also in the meeting, the board approved a resolution for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
With a decrease in state funding for the year, the school system was able to draw from federal stimulus money.
However, when that money is depleted, the school system had to agree to move positions back to state funding.
The board also recognized the teachers of the year for last year: Sarah Sally Matthews, Jannique Baxter Lee and Dorothy Peterson.
“Congratulations and thank you for everything you do for our schools,” Felton-Smith said.
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Comments
Posted by Hermione (anonymous) on November 17, 2009 at 7:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
They should go back to grouping the Math classes by ability. Teaching to many different levels at one time does a disservice to all of the kids, because nobody gets undivided attention. If they group, the kids who need extra help can get it and be pulled up to grade level and perhaps advance to the upper level. The kids who are already at grade level can progress beyond grade level and do something exciting with math besides formulas. The last year that they did this was the year prior to implementing the Saxon Math program. My child was in Mr. Spires advanced math class. Mr. Spires was a fantastic math teacher and could get the students excited about the subject. For the two years following the change, my child was completely unchallenged in math and would repeatedly complain about boredom in school.
Posted by TU08 (anonymous) on November 17, 2009 at 2:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
These kids should have been taught consistently from one grade to the next since they were in kindergarten, but what do I know?
Posted by belle (anonymous) on November 17, 2009 at 7:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
TU08...you don't know anything. These test scores are not a direct reflection on a teacher's ability but rather their students. If you knew anything about the former math program, you would understand how these students could lack certain math abilities.
TES-Good job on the grouping by ability and creating the diverse instruction that each learner needs!
Posted by bamajim (anonymous) on November 17, 2009 at 9:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
belle, don't seem you know to much. What is wrong with teaching kids how to do simple math. Did TU08 hit a nerve. The problem is that the education system has gone down in this state as well as the entire country since he mid 60's. Wake up America, before it's to late.
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