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Post by gatormom on Sept 26, 2008 11:37:05 GMT -5
I was wondering if anyone else has experience in block classes at the MS level. My daughter is in Algebra this year. She started accelerated math last year and struggled in pre-algebra. A new class was started this year at Still for 8th graders in Algebra either skipping pre-algebra or those who struggled like my daughter.
This has been working out great for her. I am pretty impressed that they can teach 2 whole periods of math and keep the kids interested.
I have heard that we can expect more of these types of classes in the middle school, focusing more on what was learned rather than what was taught.
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Post by WeNeed3 on Sept 26, 2008 12:11:50 GMT -5
I was wondering if anyone else has experience in block classes at the MS level. My daughter is in Algebra this year. She started accelerated math last year and struggled in pre-algebra. A new class was started this year at Still for 8th graders in Algebra either skipping pre-algebra or those who struggled like my daughter. This has been working out great for her. I am pretty impressed that they can teach 2 whole periods of math and keep the kids interested. I have heard that we can expect more of these types of classes in the middle school, focusing more on what was learned rather than what was taught. I noticed that our MS as well. I haven't had any experience yet but it sounds like a great idea.
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Post by gatormom on Sept 26, 2008 12:47:07 GMT -5
I was wondering if anyone else has experience in block classes at the MS level. My daughter is in Algebra this year. She started accelerated math last year and struggled in pre-algebra. A new class was started this year at Still for 8th graders in Algebra either skipping pre-algebra or those who struggled like my daughter. This has been working out great for her. I am pretty impressed that they can teach 2 whole periods of math and keep the kids interested. I have heard that we can expect more of these types of classes in the middle school, focusing more on what was learned rather than what was taught. I noticed that our MS as well. I haven't had any experience yet but it sounds like a great idea. I am pleased to see one of my biggest complaints in this district, and probably most other districts, seems to be getting addressed. I have always felt that our district did a decent job with our gifted children and had programs for those who struggled for whatever reason. It was always disheartening for the "middle of the pack" kids who might have gifts in different areas not get those gifts enriched. Nice to see more of an individualized plan for children, all children.
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Arwen
Master Member
Posts: 933
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Post by Arwen on Sept 26, 2008 13:03:56 GMT -5
Can you explain a little more how this works? I have a 4th grader who is in advanced math now (and doing fine) but he is not in Project Arrow. Is this something that he would be assigned to in 6th grade?
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Post by gatormom on Sept 26, 2008 13:28:07 GMT -5
Can you explain a little more how this works? I have a 4th grader who is in advanced math now (and doing fine) but he is not in Project Arrow. Is this something that he would be assigned to in 6th grade? Probably not. The children who are in accelerated math in grade school usually do quite well in MS with the progression. My daughter skipped 7th grade math, did self study over the summer between 6th and 7th grade. When she got into the pre-algebra class, she struggled but managed to pass. The teachers felt that she would do better in this class this year and they were correct. Her block class is mainly students who had been in I-Math, those students who are strong in regular math, need a challenge but are not quite ready to accelerate. The I-Math class is also a block class. The extra period used is connections.
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Post by justvote on Sept 26, 2008 18:38:59 GMT -5
Her block class is mainly students who had been in I-Math, those students who are strong in regular math, need a challenge but are not quite ready to accelerate. The I-Math class is also a block class. The extra period used is connections. That is my daughter to a Tee. She is very strong in regular math, so they had her tested for Accelerated, but didn't score high enough for that. She's still in regular Math and doing very well. I have never heard of "I-Math" or any block classes at my daughter's middle school. Can you give me more information before I contact the school?
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Post by title1parent on Sept 26, 2008 22:31:53 GMT -5
My son was in I-Math at Still. It was a block type class where he had his Connections combined with his Math class. oh It was team taught, also. It seemed that the I-Math was an intermediate math course.
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Post by gatormom on Sept 26, 2008 22:42:44 GMT -5
My son was in I-Math at Still. It was a block type class where he had his Connections combined with his Math class. oh It was team taught, also. It seemed that the I-Math was an intermediate math course. Last year it seemed that the I-Math kids were being readied for accelerated math. Some kids were moved up to accelerated math in 7th grade and those that were ready were put into Algebra this year, the block class my daughter is in. The first period is spent on the lesson and the second period is spent enriching it, more fun but making sure the lesson is learned.
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Post by title1parent on Sept 28, 2008 8:28:56 GMT -5
IIRC, the I-Math program was being piloted at Still to help with the low math scores. I dont know if the program went beyond Still to other MS.
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Post by boilermaker on Sept 28, 2008 10:14:39 GMT -5
Can you explain a little more how this works? I have a 4th grader who is in advanced math now (and doing fine) but he is not in Project Arrow. Is this something that he would be assigned to in 6th grade? He would continue in Accel Math so in 6th grade would definitely do 7th grade Math. He will get tested in 5th grade again to see if he is 'algebra-ready' - a long 3 hour test on a Saturday morning sometime in March. Should he qualify he would be in the Math Strand in 6th grade, and do 8th grade stuff.
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